Retired military officers who served in the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) have urged the Federal Government to establish a dedicated Remembrance Day for Nigerian soldiers who died during peacekeeping operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
An appeal for immortalisation of ECOMOG Veterans
The appeal was made by a delegation of ECOMOG veterans led by Maj. Gen. Ohifeme Ejimai (rtd) during a meeting with the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), at the Ministry of Defence headquarters, Abuja.
The veterans also called for the completion of outstanding historical records relating to the regional military intervention, including casualty lists and other materials documenting the force’s operations.
In response, the Minister of Defence, Gen. Musa (rtd), assured the delegation that the sacrifices of Nigerian personnel who died during the missions would not be forgotten.
This was as he reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to preserving the legacy of the war veterans.
He acknowledged the significant human and financial resources Nigeria committed to ECOMOG operations, particularly in Liberia and Sierra Leone, where Nigerian troops participated in efforts to restore peace during periods of armed conflict.
Gen. Musa also assured the veterans that efforts to complete the documentation of outstanding records, casualty lists and historical assets associated with ECOMOG would be finalised to ensure that the force’s contributions were preserved for future generations.
Earlier, Maj. Gen. Ejimai briefed the minister on the activities of the veterans’ association and the welfare of surviving personnel who served under the regional peacekeeping force.
The retired Major General said the veterans remained willing to contribute to national development and security, despite having left active military service.
He further urged the Ministry of Defence to address gaps in the documentation of the history of ECOMOG, stressing the importance of ensuring that the contributions of Nigerian troops were properly recorded.
The proposed Remembrance Day would provide an additional platform for recognising the sacrifices of fallen personnel and honouring veterans who participated in the missions.
The Federal Government, speaking through the Minister of Defence have formally given an approval for the immortalisation of the fallen ECOMOG soldiers.
ECOMOG was established by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1990 as a regional peacekeeping and peace-enforcement force.
It became a major component of regional efforts to address conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Nigeria played a leading role in the missions, contributing military personnel and resources to operations aimed at restoring stability in the affected countries.
It however placed Nigerian troops in difficult operational environments, with some losing their lives while serving outside the country in support of regional peace and security.
Beyond the immediate demand for a Remembrance Day, the veterans’ appeal draws attention to the importance of preserving military history.
It was a demonstration of the essence of maintaining accurate records of personnel who served in international operations.
Proper documentation can also help future generations understand the scale of Nigeria’s involvement in regional peacekeeping, while ensuring that the service of fallen soldiers remained part of the country’s historical record.
