Nigeria sends troops, weapons to Guinea Bissau on peace-keeping mission
The Nigerian Navy on Saturday transported military weapons and armies to Guinea Bissau on a peace keeping mission.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the weapons include trucks, cars, and tankers.
Since independence from Portugal in 1974,Guinea Bissau has weathered four coups and is presently facing unrest.
The exercise was carried out on the platform of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG).
As a West African peacekeeping force, ECOMOG that started with about 3,000 armies and has grown to between 10,000 and 12,000 troops, the vast majority being Nigerians.
The peacekeeping force included forces from five countries of ECOWAS: Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, later joined by Mali.
According to the flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Yakubu Wambai, the expectations of the Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea Bissau would result in positive results.
“Nigeria’s effort towards peace-keeping and peace enforcement in Guinea Bissau becomes germane while the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s synergy will become a hallmark as it continues to operate.
“The role the Nigerian Navy is playing today by NNS KADA conveying military hardware is one of the roles assigned to the Nigerian Navy Constitutionally.
“By moving this equipment, we are supporting ECOWAS with the stabilisation support force that is established in Guinea Bissau,’’ he said.
Wambai added that the movement of the equipment through NNS KADA demonstrated that the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Armed Forces had come of age to perform such operations successfully.
“The Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Army Staff, and Chief of Air Staff brought it together to show the manifestation under the leadership of the Minister of Defence.
“At the end, we will continue to showcase the capability, capacity, and competence of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the whole world while keeping peace within our sub-region.
“This positions Nigeria as a regional power and continues to show that we are in the lead,’’ he pointed out.
Nexus News gathered that the Nigerian Navy in 1990 performed a similar exercise using NNS AMBE and NNS DAMISA to convey equipment and personnel to support in stabilising Liberia.
“we did the same thing in Sierra Leone; three years ago in Gambia and now we are doing it in Guinea Bissau.
“We will continue to showcase our role and big brotherliness by assisting and coming to the aid of these West African countries whenever there is the need,’’ the FOC added.
Wambai said that the ECOWAS standby force was still in existence and that the Nigerian Navy would use that umbrella to continue to work and function to assist peace and stability within the West African sub-region.
Wambai advised the contingent en route Guinea Bissau to adhere to integrity, professionalism, and teamwork in all their operations.
“I must remind you that the rules of engagement in the mission area demand that you exhibit utmost professionalism in the discharge of your responsibilities.
“Also, I must urge you to respect the religious and cultural sensitivity of the host nation in the course of discharging your duties,’’ the FOC advised.
