Nigerian Army Deploys 86 Troops on Fresh ECOWAS Mission

• The Nigerian Army has deployed 86 soldiers to Guinea-Bissau as part of the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to regional peace, security and stability across West Africa.

The Nigerian Army has deployed 86 troops to Guinea-Bissau under the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB), reinforcing Nigeria’s long-standing commitment to peacekeeping and regional security in West Africa.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Army said the troops, deployed as Nigerian Company 5 (NIGCOY 5 ESSMGB), departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, aboard a Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft before arriving safely in Guinea-Bissau to begin their peace support mission.

Before their departure, the Chief of Operations, Major General Mayirenso Saraso, represented by the Director of Peace Support Operations, Brigadier General M.M. Idris, charged the personnel to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and operational excellence throughout the mission.

The troops were also urged to serve as worthy ambassadors of the Nigerian Army and the country by respecting the laws of the host nation and maintaining zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, substance abuse, indiscipline and irresponsible use of social media.

According to the Army, the deployment underscores Nigeria’s leadership role in ECOWAS peacekeeping operations and its continued contribution to conflict prevention, peacebuilding and post-conflict stabilisation across Africa.

The ESSMGB was established to support security sector reforms and preserve political stability in Guinea-Bissau following years of political unrest and military interventions.

Nigeria remains one of the largest contributors to ECOWAS peace missions, having previously deployed troops to operations in Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, among other countries.

The latest deployment comes as ECOWAS continues to address growing security challenges across West Africa, including political instability and insurgency in parts of the region.