Freetown – The Nigerian Army has announced plans to return some of its retired officers and soldiers who served in Sierra Leone during the brutal civil war to witness the fruits of the peace they helped restore more than three decades ago.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, disclosed the initiative on Friday in Abuja while outlining activities for the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2026. He described the programme as a major highlight of this year’s celebration, aimed at honouring veterans of the early 1990s ECOMOG peacekeeping missions.
“Some of our officers and men who served in Sierra Leone, Liberia and other countries during the peacekeeping missions of the early 1990s have been selected to return to those countries to see what their efforts have achieved,” Shaibu said.
Many of these veterans have not revisited Sierra Leone since their tours of duty and will now have the opportunity to see the lasting impact of their service in helping to end the conflict and restore stability.
The initiative is viewed as a tangible way for Nigeria to express gratitude to the men and women who risked their lives in one of West Africa’s most devastating conflicts. Sierra Leone’s civil war (1991–2002) claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands more. Nigerian troops, as part of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), played a pivotal frontline role in combating rebel forces and protecting civilians.
Lt.-Gen. Shaibu emphasised that the gesture is also meant to boost the morale of currently serving personnel.
“They should know that they will be honoured for life, and as long as the nation endures, those coming behind them will appreciate the sacrifices they are making,” he stated.
The Nigerian Army Day Celebration is an annual event commemorating the force’s establishment and recognising the professionalism and gallantry of its troops. This year’s programme, which includes religious services, tributes to fallen heroes, and honours for veterans and serving soldiers, also aims to promote national unity.
While the announcement was made in Abuja, the return visit to Sierra Leone carries special significance for both nations. Many Sierra Leoneans still remember with gratitude the heavy price paid by Nigerian soldiers, several of whom lost their lives in the line of duty during the war.
The programme is expected to further strengthen the longstanding bonds of friendship and shared history between Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
The return of retired military officers and personnel who were members of the regional peace keeping force (ECOMOG) is a welcome Idea. We the people of Sierra Leone appreciate the return of ECOMOG veterans back to Sierra Leone for the restoration of democratic and constitutional order.