Nigerian peacekeepers return from Sierra Leone
From Lawrence Njoku Enugu
OVER 700 officers and soldiers of the 3rd Battalion of the Nigerian Army involved in the peace-keeping mission in Sierra Leone with the United Nations Missions are now back in Nigeria.
The officers and men of the Battalion left the country in October 2003, for Sierra Leone where they were involved in the disarmament, demobilisation and rehabilitation of ex-combatants as well as the provision of physical security to the country's capital, Freetown.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj-Gen. Abdulhafeez Adewuyi, while receiving them back to their barracks in Takum, Taraba State, congratulated them on their achievements which he said had done the nation proud.
The GOC said various reports from leading UN officials, force commanders and diplomats in Sierra Leone were full of praises for the quality of soldiering demonstrated by the battalion throughout its operations in Sierra Leone.
"The local and external news reports emanating from the West African country indicated the unit also succeeded in winning the hearts and minds of appreciative Sierra Leoneans who have been commending you for the unique community relations projects which you executed while in the country," the GOC said.
Adewuyi, therefore, urged the soldiers to apply the lessons they learnt on the peace-keeping mission on their return home, more so when the Army was getting more involved in internal security duties in the country.
He further enjoined the soldiers to demonstrate absolute loyalty in all their duties and activities. He promised that they would be allowed some rest as soon as the security formalities on their return to the country were concluded.
Earlier, the Commanding Officer of the Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Ovadje told the GOC that their mission, though full of tension was successfully conducted with virtually no record of casualties and incidence of misconduct.
