July 16, (THEWILL) – Liberia is set to immortalise officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army (NA), killed in peacekeeping operations during the country’s Civil war.
The Chief of Staff (COS), Armed Forces of Liberia, Major General Prince Charles Johnson III, disclosed this on Friday, during a courtesy call on Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
A statement issued by the Director of Nigerian Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said Major General Prince Johnson conveyed the appreciation of the Armed Forces of Liberia for the sacrifices rendered by Nigerian troops to the people of Liberia, in restoring peace during the internal strive experienced in the country.
He eulogised the Nigerian Army for the technical assistance rendered through the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), support team, which he said has ushered in a new Armed Forces of Liberia.
Major General Prince Charles Johnson, called for more collaboration and bilateral relations between Nigeria and Liberia in the area of training.
Responding, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, noted that the Nigerian Army (NA), will continue to leverage on the experiences gathered during peacekeeping operations in Liberia, in the discharge of its constitutional roles.
He assured the visiting Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of Liberia of continuous support, especially in the area of capacity development, adding that the NA has a long-standing relationship with the Liberians and will continue to extend the warm hands of friendship to the Armed Forces of Liberia.
The high point of the visit was the exchange of souvenirs by the COAS and the Armed Forces of Liberia, Chief of Staff.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff Armed Forces of Liberia also paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor and the Service Chiefs in Abuja
According to him, Liberia has been enjoying seventeen years of relative peace due to the sacrifices of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Major General Prince Johnson said he came to tap on the expertise of the Armed Forces Nigeria and how best to solve contemporary issues.
General Irabor said that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will give Liberia the support needed to make sure that the country is intact.
General Johnson said that the Liberian Military has perfected plans to hold a memorial anniversary in honour of the Nigerian fallen heroes of the Nigerian Army, who fought during the Liberian Civil War from 1989 until 1997.
The Liberian Chief equally visited the Nigerian Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo.
Represented by Chief of Policy and Plans Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Sa’idu Garba, said “the point that Liberia made in Nigeria in solving piracy will enable African countries to patrol Gulf of Guinea among other benefits”
Nigeria, had in October 1990, deployed over 5,000, about 84%, of the 6,000 troops that were sent to Liberia during the first civil war, which began in 1989.
Between 1991, 1992 and 1993, when the ECOMOG Standing troops rose to 12,000, Nigeria alone contributed 10,000, about 83%.
Nigerian peacekeepers were also deployed to Liberia under the UN Mission in Liberia (UNSMIL), which was established in September 2003, to monitor a ceasefire agreement, following the resignation of President Charles Taylor and the conclusion of the second Liberian Civil War.
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