Defence Minister Vows to Preserve Legacy of Nigerian Troops Killed in ECOMOG Missions

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has assured veterans of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) that Nigerian troops who died during peacekeeping operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone will not be forgotten.

Musa gave the assurance when he received a delegation of ECOMOG veterans led by retired Major General Ohifeme Ejimai at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja.

The minister’s position was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Leah Katung-Babatunde.

According to the statement, Musa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to preserving the history and legacy of Nigerian personnel who served under the regional peacekeeping force.

He acknowledged the significant human and financial resources Nigeria committed to the missions, particularly the sacrifices of personnel who lost their lives while working to restore peace and stability in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Musa also assured the delegation that efforts to document outstanding records, casualty details and historical assets connected to ECOMOG would be completed to ensure the force’s contributions were preserved for future generations.

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

He said the retired peacekeepers remained willing to contribute to Nigeria’s development and national security despite leaving active military service.

The retired general also urged the Ministry of Defence to address gaps in the documentation of ECOMOG’s history and consider establishing an annual remembrance day to honour the hundreds of Nigerian troops who died during the operations.

ECOMOG was established by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1990 as a regional peacekeeping and peace enforcement force.

Nigeria played a significant role in its operations, which sought to restore stability and constitutional order in Liberia and Sierra Leone during periods of armed conflict.