After ensuring that it's own home front has been secured, Big Brother Nigeria is going to deploy troops to Mali and Guinea by May 18

http://www.punchng.com/news/nigeria-to-send-soldiers-to-guinea-bissau/


Nigeria is set to deploy troops in Guinea Bissau this week, according to Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed.

Mohammed said this while addressing the 30th meeting of the Committee of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja on Monday.

According to him, the Nigerian troops will complement the one battalion of military peace-keepers which the Economic Community of West Africa is sending to Guinea Bissau.

He said, “We are committed to the pledges made by Nigeria for the Guinea Bissau and Mali Missions and our troops are ready. For Guinea Bissau, we will deploy troops before the 18th of this month.”

The minister said ECOWAS had yet to take a decision on whether it would send troops to another troubled member state, Mali.

He said, “As you know our sub-region is plagued with challenges of insecurity and also instability in some of the countries.

“The CDS (Chiefs of Defence Staff) are here to discuss how the intervention of ECOWAS will help to bring security and to stabilise the country where instability is rearing its head, this is on the instruction of the Head of States of the ECOWAS.

“On Guinea Bissau, a decision is already made that a military contingent from the ECOWAS will be sent to assist the government in maintaining law and order.

“Nigeria, as a leading member of ECOWAS, will participate when invited.”

Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Oluseyi Petinrin, said the military was prepared for the assignment anytime an invitation was received.

Petinrin said, “The decision to send troops will be made by government. Our job is to be prepared so that when they decide to deploy we will be ready.”

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the defence chiefs to ensure that peace and security are sustained in the sub-region.

He made the call when the Chiefs of Defence Staff in the sub-region paid him a visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said, “Though there are challenges in some areas, the stability of countries in the Economic Community of West African States sub-region is commendable.”

Following respective coup d’états in Mali and Guinea Bissau, ECOWAS and other international organisations took steps to restore democratic order in both countries.

ECOWAS imposed sanctions on the respective junta to ensure compliance to its protocols on zero tolerance for military rule.

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