The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has said that the police will on June 10 deploy 140 personnel to Mali in support of the ECOWAS and African Union-led peace initiative.
Abubakar announced the plan on Friday, shortly before handing over the Nigerian and Nigeria Police flags to the Commissioner of Police in-charge of Peacekeeping, Kayode Aderanti, at Force Headquarters.
The flags are symbols of authority, which empower the troops to represent the nation and force in Mali.
The personnel from Formed Police Unit comprise specialised sections trained in riot control and counter-terrorism and are equipped with modern crime fighting and peacekeeping equipment.
Abubakar urged them to take their assignment serious and be good ambassadors of the force and the nation.
Abubakar also urged the troops to be dedicated, committed, honest and professional as well as shun all forms of vices and respect human rights while keeping the peace in Mali.
Currently, the force has seven Staff Officers in Mali, including DCP Subair Kamar, who is in-charge of the African Mission in Mali.
The IG reminded them that the force had created outstanding record of good performance in peacekeeping missions, making the African Union Commission to commend the peacekeepers in Somalia.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, congratulated the officers for being selected to keep the peace in Mali and urged them to be true ambassadors of the force and nation.
Represented by Major General Hussain Saliu, Ibrahim warned the personnel to behave professionally as they would be closely monitored.
In his remarks, the Nigeria Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to AU, Bulus Lolo, said peacekeeping was one of the areas where the country had excelled in its foreign policy.
Lolo said that it was a privilege and honour for anyone to be called upon to serve the country in any capacity and charged them to “be peacekeepers and not peace abusers.”
“Expect the unexpected,” he said, adding that when they found themselves in difficult situations, they should be guided by the best of judgment.
The deployment to Mali brings to 10 the number of countries where Nigerian policemen are currently keeping the peace.
The other countries are Cote d ‘Ivoire, DR Congo, East Timor, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Liberia, Somalia, South Sudan and The Sudan.
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