The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Saturday airlifted the first batch of Nigerian troops deploying under NIGCOY 5 to the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB).
The deployment is part of Nigeria’s contribution to the ECOWAS peace support mission aimed at promoting stability and security in Guinea-Bissau.
The initial batch consists of 12 officers and 74 soldiers deploying under NIGCOY 5.
The troops departed from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, aboard a NAF C-130 transport aircraft.
The rest of the contingent will be deployed in subsequent flights.
Before departing from the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Force Operations Base in Abuja, the troops received a formal address. Military authorities charged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, and integrity.
The ongoing ECOWAS mission aims to support democratic institutions, strengthen regional security cooperation, and maintain peace across West Africa.
This deployment reinforces Nigeria’s leadership role within ECOWAS peace support efforts, following similar strategic air mobility operations like the rotation of troops for the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG).