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Nigerian Formed Police On Historic Mission Beefs Up Unmil Police

The NEWS (Monrovia)
NEWS
July 6, 2004
Posted to the web July 6, 2004

By Bobby Tapson
Monrovia
For the first time in the history of United Nations missions, an African State
has contributed Formed Police Unit to a UN peacekeeping operation. The historic
contribution was made when the Federal Republic of Nigeria demonstrated its
firmed commitment and sustained support to the ongoing peace process in Liberia
by contributing a contingent of 120-strong Formed Police Unite (FPU) to
increase the strength of the UNMIL Civil Police already in the here.
The smartly-dressed Green Beret FPU from Nigeria arrived at the Robert
International Airport Sunday on a Jordanian aviation transport jet.
Meeting them on arrival, the Nigerian Ambassador in Liberia, Eineje E. Onobu
told them, "You are on a special mission and I know you are already aware of
your mission here to help move forward the peace process that the leaders of
ECOWAS and the international community have initiated and nurtured so carefully
", Ambassador Onobu told the officers of the Formed Police Unit at the airport
in welcoming them to Liberia.
Ambassador Onobu reminded them that they formed part of a very important and
critical element of UNMIL's Civil Police that are in Liberia to help train and
restructure the Liberia National Police Service.
The Nigerian Ambassador told his countrymen and women that they were here to
enhance what others before them have done.
He also challenged them to perform with total commitment and dedication to
bring more credit to Nigeria, ECOWAS and the sub region.
Ambassador Onobu pledged his personal as well as the Embassy's full support to
the officers during their historic mission in Liberia.
The Deputy Civil Police Commander of UNMIL, Mohammed L. Alhassan said he was
delighted to see for the first time an African country contributing Formed
Police Unit to a United Nations mission.
The UNMIL Deputy Police Chief said the newly arrived officers would be based in
Gbarnga, Bong County where they are expected to discharge their duties with
diligence and efficiency.
Meanwhile, a release from the Nigerian Embassy said that the FPU is drawn from
a special unit of the Nigerian Police Force responsible for the maintenance of
law and order and curbing violent crimes.
The release said the unit is made up of a Commander, several Platoon
Commanders, logistics and medical personnel.

   

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