The Nigeria Army, on Wednesday, completed pre-deployment training for 172 troops for a peacekeeping mission in Guinea Bissau.

The troops began their pre-deployment training on March 21 at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peace Keeping Centre (MLAILPKC), Jaji, Kaduna state.

The army’s chief of operations, Taoreed Lagbaja, said the troops would be Nigeria’s Company 2 Stabilisation Mission in the ECOWAS-support mission in Guinea Bissau.

Mr Lagbaja, represented by Bayode Adetoro, the Director, Peace Support Operations, said the graduation further confirmed the commitment of Nigeria to deploy quality peacekeepers as part of its contributions to the quest for global peace and security.

He explained that the pre-deployment training was to refresh and polish troops’ knowledge and expertise in peace-support operations.

“The training was to equip you with the requisite skills required to protect yourselves, ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau equipment and the citizens of Guinea Bissau, your host nation while carrying out the mission’s mandate,” he told the troops.

He cautioned the troops to avoid any ugly incident that could tarnish the image of the army and Nigeria during their stay in Guinea-Bissau.

“Additionally, you must respect the culture and religious sensitivity of the people of the host nation and must not involve yourselves in the trafficking of illicit substance of any kind,” Mr Lagbaja warned.

He stressed that the ECOWAS mission has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse.

Earlier, the commandant of the MLAILPKC, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, noted that Nigeria and its armed forces had remained committed to global peace and security.

He urged them to carry out their duties, bearing in mind the multinational and cultural and religious diversities of the operating environment.

He thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, for his guidance and support to the centre, which enabled the successful completion of the pre-deployment training. 

(NAN)