- As mission draws to an end
BY RUTH TENE NATSA, IN MOGADISHU-SOMALIA – The contingent commander, for the Nigeria Formed Police Unit (NFPU)-11 personnel, SP Ibrahim Mohammed has said that no casualty was recorded by the contingent since their arrival at the Mission, on July 13, 2022.
Forefront News reports that the Nigerian team, serving under the African Union Transmission Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) consists of 160 officials including 25 women, operating four platoons consisting of Alpha, Bravo, Charley, and Delta.
The Nigerian contingent will also be rotating out of the Mission area by October 2023 as part of the preparations for the handing over of security to the Federal Government of Somalia by December 31, 2024,
Briefing journalists from Nigeria at the Aljazeerah Camp, in Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, SP Mohammed said the team did not record any casualty as they did not rest on their oars.
Mohammed said; “There are lots of strategies, combat formations, and responses in case of any eventualities. So, we are always vigilant, even in our camps and that is why some of our officers are already out and even our parameter fencing within the camp is fortified
“And I can say all these have to do with the training we had received from our home country. We are always vigilant and alert and so far, so good, God has been good to us”.
Speaking on the selection process of officers for the mission, SP Mohammed said that it required no academic qualification but, was usually based on fitness, capability, and intensive operational training conducted at police training colleges after nomination as well as assessments conducted by the Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) among others.
According to him; “Prior to our arrival, we were given pre-deployment training on the high expectations obtainable here in Somalia, Mogadishu and part of the training assisted us in combatting most of our operational/security threats here in Mogadishu.
“Parts of our mandates include the protection of ATMIS officials and its installations, protection of individual police officers, VIP escorts, Checkpoint duties, Cordon and Search as well as carrying out guard duties at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Justice Ministry respectively, all here in Mogadishu.
“When we arrived here through the able leadership of the ATMIS Commissioner of Police, Hillary Sai Kanu, and the FU Coordinator, we were able to establish and carry out an intensive joint patrol with the Somalia Police Force. Prior to that, the Somalia Police Force lacked confidence in terms of patrol duties. But when we embarked on this intensive patrol system, we were able to show them some of the strategies and techniques because it is a gradual process of our handing over of the security apparatus come December 2024.
“We have been able to carry on checkpoint duties, cordon, search and also show them how we carry VIP escorts, and they have been picking up. The joint patrol is still ongoing and we will continue to establish that,” he said.
Mohammed said that the relationship between the Nigerian Mission and other members remained cordial despite their differences in modus operandi.
In his words; “There are operational limitations which is also a challenge because the modus operandi of how we operate differs but, ATMIS has been able to bring us together and we carry out different trainings to avoid any form of friction between the police and military in the mission area.
“We have been engaging with the locals as part of our mandates in order to build their capacities to boost their confidence. The Nigerian government always supported our Mission here and has always been prompt in delivering our equipment on request and our welfare is paramount.
“In the course of our duty, we have discharged our work in the Mission area in accordance with the mandate and procedures of ATMIS diligently and with all commitment in line with the Acting Inspector General of Police mandate mission. So far so good, NFPU is committed to also carrying out its duties diligently,” he explained.
Also speaking, SP Comfort Edem Tidwok, a Nurse and the most senior officer, said that since their arrival, the 25 members of her team have worked with confidence, needed cooperation and bonded as a team.
Tidwork said; “So far, we have had no challenges as the women have been carried along on all activities embarked on by the contingent. We are deployed alongside the men on guard duties. So, we participate in all duties without discrimination.
Earlier, the Acting Commander of the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS) Major General Marius Ngendabanka thanked the international community for their support which he noted was needed by the Mission and appealed for more and continuous support.
General Ngendabanka said; “I wish to thank the International community for their support to FGS, ATMIS in the ongoing operations against Al-Shabaab across the country and total pacification of Somalia in Key areas like Force Generation, Lifting of the Arms embargo, capacity building of SSF and most importantly identification of predictable and sustainable funding of the mission and FGS”.
