The Nigerian Army has deployed 171 troops to Abyei, a contested border region between South Sudan and Sudan, as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission.
The Chief of Operations, Nigerian Army, Major General Boniface Sinjen, made this announcement during the graduation ceremony of the Nigerian Contingent 3 of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) in Jaji, Kaduna.
Addressing the graduating troops, Sinjen underscored the importance of the mission, stating that UN peacekeeping operations go beyond military engagement to include peacebuilding, diplomacy, and humanitarian service.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to international peacekeeping efforts, noting that the country’s troops have played crucial roles in stabilizing conflict zones across Africa and beyond.
“The security situation in Abyei remains fragile and unpredictable, with ongoing intercommunal clashes, armed skirmishes, and humanitarian challenges,” Sinjen warned. He also stressed the need for the troops to uphold the highest standards of discipline, particularly in preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA).
In his remarks, the Commandant of MLAILPKC, Major General Ademola Adedoja, hailed the occasion as a significant milestone, celebrating the readiness of the graduating troops to contribute to global peace and security.
“Since its establishment, MLAILPKC has trained and graduated over 100,000 peacekeepers who have served with distinction in UN and regional peacekeeping missions, including in Liberia, Darfur, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Abyei,” Adedoja stated.
He expressed confidence that the newly deployed contingent would uphold Nigeria’s proud legacy in peacekeeping and make a meaningful impact on the UNISFA mission.
