The Nigerian Army has announced the deployment of 62 soldiers and officers to Mali on a peacekeeping mission.
Speaking at the passing out parade of the troops from the General Martin Luther Agwai Peacekeeping Centre in Jaji in northern Kaduna state on Friday, the Army Deputy Chief of Training, Brigadier General Hassan Dada, said that the soldiers would be departing to Bamako, the capital of Mali, immediately after their induction.
Brig-Gen. Dada warned the troops that the Nigerian Army would not tolerate any act of cowardice or professional misconduct from them during the operation in Mali.
He advised the contingent to abide by the rules of engagement, exhibit braveness as professionals and respect the cultural sensitivity of the people of Mali.
According to him, the soldiers and officers had undergone intensive military training at the General Martin Luther Agwai Peacekeeping Centre in Jaji, ahead of their departure to Mali on a peacekeeping mission.
He explained that they were subjected to three weeks of special intensive training, and the completion of the Pre-Deployment Training qualifies them to be deployed in the United Nations Multi-Dimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
According to local media reports on Saturday, the soldiers and officers were reminded of the United Nations zero-tolerance for drug trafficking and human rights abuse and that they should avoid indecent characters capable of tarnishing the image of the Nigerian Army and the nation in general.
Mali has been facing serious political, security, socio-economic, humanitarian and human rights challenges after a coalition of Tuareg and other terrorist groups attacked and captured some territories in the country in January 2012.
This development led to the deployment of AU and French forces which later transformed into the UN Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) with a Security Council mandate which includes the protection of civilians.
Since, the inception of the UN mission, Nigeria has been deploying a Level II Hospital in the Timbuktu region of Mali.
GIK/APA