By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Veterans Association has appealed to the Federal Government to repatriate the remains of Nigerian soldiers killed during peacekeeping operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone for proper military burial.
The association also called for a national memorial to honour fallen personnel whose remains cannot be recovered from the theatres of operation.
The appeals were made when a delegation of serving and retired military officers, led by retired Maj.-Gen. Ohifeme Ejemai, visited the Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, in Abuja.
The association in a statement on Friday, said the proposed initiatives would preserve the legacy of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) and honour personnel who sacrificed their lives for regional peace.
During the visit, Ejemai said some Nigerian soldiers killed during the operations could not be repatriated because of the prevailing conditions at the time and were buried in the theatres of operation.
He urged the Ministry of Defence to facilitate the recovery and repatriation of their remains, where possible, in line with military traditions and service regulations.
For personnel whose remains could not be located or recovered, the association proposed a befitting national memorial to recognise their sacrifices and preserve their memory.
Ejemai said the association brought together military personnel who participated in ECOMOG operations between 1990 and 2000, which played a significant role in efforts to restore peace and stability in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
He noted that thousands of Nigerian and other West African military personnel participated in the operations, with many killed or sustaining life-altering injuries.
According to him, the association is calling for the documentation of ECOMOG operations to preserve the experiences and lessons of the peacekeeping mission beyond honouring fallen personnel.
“We are planning research, interviews with veterans and publications documenting first-hand accounts of operations in the two countries,” he said.
The association leader also appealed for ECOMOG history to be incorporated into the curricula of military training institutions to help future generations learn from the mission’s successes and challenges.
He further disclosed plans to engage the ECOWAS Commission on establishing an annual ECOMOG Reunion and Remembrance Day to celebrate veterans and honour those who died in service.
Responding, the Minister of Defence assured the association of the Federal Government’s support for efforts to document ECOMOG’s history and honour Nigerian personnel who served in the peacekeeping operations.
Musa commended the veterans for their commitment to preserving the mission’s legacy and ensuring that its lessons were passed on to future generations.
He said the association’s requests, including the repatriation of fallen soldiers’ remains, establishment of a national memorial and inclusion of ECOMOG history in military training curricula, would receive the necessary attention and support.
The minister reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with relevant authorities and stakeholders to address the requests, stressing the need to preserve the sacrifices of personnel who contributed to regional peace and stability.
NAN reports that Nigeria deployed over 5,000 out of an initial 6,000 ECOMOG troops, later scaling up to provide about 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers out of roughly 16,000 total regional forces to Liberia between 1989 to 1997z
NAN also reports that in Sierra Leone, Nigeria contributed around 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the total ECOMOG force (peaking at roughly 10,000 troops).
In 1997, a rapid Nigerian-led intervention force of roughly 700 to 1,000 troops recaptured Freetown within seven days to restore the democratically elected government. (NAN)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
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