On Wednesday, the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre completed the training of 157 army troops assigned for a peacekeeping mission in Abyei, South Sudan.
The troops, mostly from Nigerian Company 2 to the United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei, NIGCOY 2 UNISFA, consisted of 15 officers and 142 soldiers.
Maj. Gen. Boniface Sinjen, the Chief of Operations, Army Headquarters, who addressed the troops at their pre-deployment graduation ceremony, said the occasion demonstrated the commitment and capacity of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to deploy quality peacekeepers as part of its contributions to global peace and security.
According to him, Nigeria’s national defence policy is focused on the security and stability of Africa, with specific emphasis on the West African sub-region.
He said that Nigeria continued to seek global peace and security by contributing to and participating in peace support operations around the world.
To this end, Singen said Nigeria had successfully participated in over 40 peacekeeping missions and had deployed more than 100,000 peacekeepers since her first mission in the Congo in 1960.
“All Nigerian peacekeepers, alongside others from around the world, have aided the course of humanity while helping nations in distress restore peace and enthrone much-desired development.
“The UNISFA was established to restore peace and stability in Abyei after the demilitarisation of Abyei in June 2011, making it an administrative town under the control of the United Nations.
“Essentially, the mission is mandated to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, protect the area from incursions by unauthorised elements and ensure security.
“The mission has also helped to restore peace and stability in Abyei through the professional conduct of the troops,” he said.