FG TO IMMORTALISE NIGERIAN SOLDIERS KILLED IN LIBERIA, SIERRA LEONE — DEFENCE MINISTER

The Federal Government has pledged to preserve the memory of Nigerian soldiers who died during peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), gave the assurance while receiving a delegation of veterans of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group, known as ECOMOG, in Abuja.

The delegation was led by Maj. Gen. Ohifeme Ejimai (retd.).

According to a statement released on Friday by the minister’s media aide, Leah Katung-Babatunde, Musa acknowledged Nigeria’s significant human and financial contributions to the regional force.

He paid particular tribute to personnel who lost their lives during the missions, assuring the veterans that their sacrifices would not be forgotten.

Musa said ongoing efforts to document ECOMOG’s records, casualties and historical assets would be completed to preserve its legacy for future generations.

Earlier, Ejimai briefed the minister on the veterans’ activities and the condition of surviving Nigerian personnel who served under the force.

He said the veterans remained willing to contribute to national development and security.

Ejimai also urged the ministry to address gaps in the documentation of ECOMOG’s history and consider establishing a remembrance day for the hundreds of Nigerian troops who died during its operations.

ECOMOG was established by ECOWAS in 1990. Nigeria played a leading role in its missions to help restore stability and constitutional order in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

While the minister pledged to preserve the force’s legacy, the proposed remembrance day remains a request from the veterans.