Emmanuel Oghenero
Nigeria is set to mobilize a contingent of 171 Nigerian soldiers, including 18 officers and 153 soldiers for the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) mission in South Sudan.
The soldiers recently completed their pre-deployment training which took place at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) in Jaji, a United Nations-accredited facility dedicated to preparing troops for peacekeeping operations.
At the graduation ceremony, Major General Boniface Sinjen highlighted Nigeria’s long and distinguished history in peacekeeping, noting that Nigerian forces have played vital roles in stabilizing conflict zones worldwide, from Lebanon to Liberia, Sierra Leone to Sudan.
He emphasized that Nigerian peacekeepers have consistently earned global recognition for their leadership, bravery, and professional competence.
“Nigeria remains a pillar of international peace efforts. Our troops have demonstrated exceptional performance in places like The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Abyei,” Sinjen said. However, he acknowledged that the security situation in Abyei remains unstable, citing ongoing intercommunal conflicts, armed clashes, and a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the broader instability in Sudan and South Sudan.
Sinjen urged the troops to uphold the core values of peacekeeping, emphasizing discipline, impartiality, and respect for human dignity. He reminded them that they would be seen not only as soldiers but as symbols of hope and protectors in Abyei. He stressed the importance of maintaining the Nigerian Army’s reputation for professionalism and warned against engaging in any behavior that could undermine the mission, particularly sexual exploitation and abuse, which the United Nations and Nigeria’s military have zero tolerance for.
Maj.-Gen. Ademola Adedoja, Commandant of MLAILPKC, expressed confidence in the troops’ readiness after they completed an intensive pre-deployment training (PDT) designed to prepare them for the challenges of peacekeeping in one of Africa’s most volatile regions. Since its establishment, MLAILPKC has graduated over 100,000 peacekeepers who have served with distinction in various missions across Africa.
The training included medical screenings, in line with UN requirements, to assess the physical and mental fitness of the troops. It followed the United Nations’ Core Pre-Deployment Training Materials (CPTM) and focused on peacekeeping fundamentals, mission-specific training on counter-IEDs, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, intelligence on Abyei, and financial management. The tactical phase of the training prepared the troops for operational realities such as base camp security, convoy drills, and crowd control, among other tasks they will face in the mission area.
The troops are now set to join the UNISFA mission in Abyei, where they will continue Nigeria’s proud tradition of contributing to global peace and stability.
This development comes amidst a seeming resurgence of Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks on troops formations and civilians in the Northeast, banditry in the Northwest, renewed herdsmen attacks and kidnapping in the Middle Belt, and the blowing up of critical crude oil assets in Rivers State.
