Nigerian Soldiers Off To Mali On Peacekeeping Mission

The first batch of Military troops will be jetting off to war torn Mali today January16, as President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the immediate deployment of 900 troops to the country as part of the ECOWAS Force to push for the emancipation of Northern Mali from the grip of Islamists.

Director of Defence Information, Col. Mohammed Yerima, who stated this during a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, said the first batch comprising 190 troops would leave the country for Mali on today while “the remainder would be deployed later.”

Yerima said, “As you are aware, the degenerating crisis in the Republic of Mali compelled the decision of ECOWAS Heads of Government to intervene with a deployment of their military forces.

“Following this decision, and in line with Nigeria’s acclaimed peacekeeping roles and in the spirit of African brotherhood, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has ordered the immediate deployment of Nigerian troops in Mali.

Already, the Force Commander, Maj.Gen. S.U. Abdulkadir, is on the ground in Mali. Also, a technical team of Nigerian Army and Air Force is already in Mali to facilitate the eventual full deployment of fighter aircraft and support element.