By Emeka Blast 
197 Nigeria army deployed to Gambia for peace keeping
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to regional stability by deploying 197 soldiers to join the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG). This contingent—comprising 14 officers and 183 soldiers—completed a rigorous six-week pre-deployment training at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) in Jaji, Kaduna State, where they were instructed on UN-standard protocols, including protection of civilians, conflict-related sexual violence prevention, and rules of engagement. Their mission builds on the original 2017 intervention that resolved The Gambia’s constitutional crisis and underscores Nigeria’s ongoing role as a regional “powerhouse” for peace support operations.
Deployment Details
Number and Composition
The Nigerian Army dispatched 197 troops, including 14 officers and 183 enlisted personnel, under “Nigeria Company 8” for ECOMIG .
Official Authorization
Major-General Ademola Adedoja, Commandant of MLAILPKC, formally deployed the contingent on May 4, 2024, highlighting Nigeria’s historical contributions to UN and sub-regional peace operations .
Pre-Deployment Training
Duration and Curriculum
From May 4 to June 14, 2024, troops underwent a six-week intensive training aligned with UN Core Pre-Deployment Training Modules, covering tactical exercises and cross-cutting issues such as sexual exploitation and abuse, conduct and discipline, and protection of civilians .
Skill Certifications
They completed weapon-handling drills, including an Inter-Platoon Stripping and Assembling Competition, to ensure readiness for peace support tasks .
Conduct Standards
Troops were repeatedly warned against any misconduct—especially sexual exploitation and trafficking of illicit substances—with ECOWAS’s zero-tolerance policy strictly enforced .
Mission Background
ECOMIG Origins
ECOWAS forces first entered The Gambia in January 2017 to enforce the peaceful transition from Yahya Jammeh to Adama Barrow, ending the constitutional crisis; the operation was later renamed the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) .
Mandate and Tasks
The peacekeepers are tasked with maintaining order, protecting civilians, and supporting local security forces to promote stability and sustainable development across The Gambia .
Significance and Reactions
Nigeria’s Regional Role
As West Africa’s leading troop contributor, Nigeria has sent peacekeepers to Congo, Yugoslavia, Lebanon, and beyond, reflecting its enduring commitment to global peace and security .
Leadership Statements
Major-General Taoreed Lagbaja, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Operations, commended the soldiers for their training performance and urged them to uphold professionalism and human rights standards throughout their deployment .
Regional Stability
ECOWAS Chairman Omar Alieu Touray and Gambian authorities have endorsed the deployment as vital for ongoing peace consolidation, citing the “powerhouse” role of Nigerian troops in bolstering regional security architecture .
Nigeria’s 197-strong contingent exemplifies the country’s strategic leadership within ECOWAS, demonstrating both a historic legacy and a forward-looking commitment to peace support operations in West Africa.
