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The Federal Government has pledged to immortalise Nigerian soldiers who lost their lives during peacekeeping operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone under the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG).
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), gave the assurance when he received a delegation of ECOMOG veterans led by Major General Ohifeme Ejimai (retd.), at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja.
The assurance was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the minister’s media aide, Leah Katung-Babatunde, who said the government remained committed to preserving the legacy and sacrifices of Nigerian military personnel who served under the regional peacekeeping force.
Musa acknowledged the significant human and financial resources Nigeria committed to ECOMOG operations, particularly the sacrifices made by troops deployed to conflict-affected countries in West Africa.
He said the personnel who paid the supreme price during the missions, especially in Liberia and Sierra Leone, would not be forgotten, adding that the government was determined to ensure that their contributions to regional peace and security received appropriate recognition.
FG to preserve ECOMOG records
The defence minister also assured the delegation that ongoing efforts to document outstanding records, casualties and historical assets associated with ECOMOG would be completed.
According to him, preserving the records would help ensure that the history of the regional force, including the sacrifices of Nigerian troops, was properly documented for future generations.
The documentation exercise is expected to help preserve the legacy of personnel who participated in the operations and provide a historical record of Nigeria’s contributions to peacekeeping efforts across the West African sub-region.
Musa’s pledge followed concerns raised by the veterans over gaps in the documentation of ECOMOG’s activities and the need for greater recognition of military personnel who died during the missions.
Veterans seek remembrance day
Earlier, Ejimai briefed the minister on the activities and ongoing initiatives of ECOMOG veterans, as well as the condition of surviving Nigerian personnel who served under the regional peacekeeping force.
The retired general said the surviving veterans remained willing to contribute their experience and expertise to national development and security, despite the challenges they faced after their service.
He urged the Ministry of Defence to address gaps in the documentation of ECOMOG’s history and consider establishing a special remembrance day to honour the hundreds of Nigerian soldiers who died during the peacekeeping operations.
Such a day, he suggested, would provide an opportunity for the country to recognise the sacrifices of the fallen troops and acknowledge their role in efforts to restore peace and stability in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The veterans’ appeal also highlighted the importance of preserving the experiences of surviving personnel and ensuring that the contributions of those who served under ECOMOG remained part of Nigeria’s military history.
Nigeria’s role in ECOMOG operations
ECOMOG was established by the Economic Community of West African States in 1990 as a regional peacekeeping and peace enforcement force to respond to conflicts threatening stability in West Africa.
The force played a significant role in efforts to restore constitutional order and stabilise Liberia and Sierra Leone during periods of prolonged conflict.
Nigeria was a major contributor to the operations, deploying military personnel and committing substantial resources to the regional intervention efforts.
The missions exposed Nigerian troops to difficult operational conditions as they worked alongside personnel from other West African countries to support peace initiatives and restore stability.
The Federal Government’s pledge to immortalise the fallen soldiers comes amid renewed calls by veterans for proper documentation of their service, recognition of their sacrifices and measures to preserve the history of one of West Africa’s major regional peacekeeping initiatives.
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