Reasons Nigeria Deployed 197 Troops to Gambia

Nigeria has deployed a new contingent of 197 troops to join the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG), following the successful completion of a rigorous pre-deployment training at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) in Jaji, Kaduna State.

At the send-off ceremony, Maj.-Gen. Uwem Bassey, represented by Maj.-Gen. Ishaya Maina, emphasized Nigeria’s longstanding role in international peacekeeping and urged the troops to maintain discipline, neutrality, and uphold human dignity. He issued a strong warning against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), reaffirming Nigeria’s zero-tolerance stance.

The Commandant of MLAILPKC, Maj.-Gen. Ademola Adedoja, highlighted that the training followed UN Core Pre-Deployment Training Materials and included mission-specific modules on convoy operations, VIP protection, and base security. He reminded the troops that their conduct would reflect on the reputation of Nigeria and its armed forces.

The security situation in The Gambia remains relatively stable, but ongoing challenges necessitate the presence of peacekeepers.

Nigeria continues to play a key role in regional and global peace efforts, with ongoing deployments in The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and South Sudan’s Abyei region.