October 13 in History: Nigeria Deployed First Peacekeeping Tropps to Congo

On October 13, 1960, a reconnaissance party of the Royal Niger Army left Lagos for Leopoldville, Congo, in Nigeria’s first official peacekeeping deployment under the United Nations.

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The 12-man party, led by the General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Military Force, Major General N.L. Foster departed at 06:30 a.m from Ikeja Airport aboard a United Nations-chartered DC-4 aircraft.

The group marks Nigeria’s first contribution to the UN Operation in the Congo (ONUC), established to restore peace following the Congo’s independence crisis.

General Foster said the mission is to carry out reconnaissance and liaison duties ahead of a larger Nigerian contingent.

“Nigeria answers the call of the United Nations to uphold peace and order in the Congo,” he told reporters at the airport. “We are here to assist in observation and to help protect civilians in accordance with the UN mandate.”

The departure was seen off by senior officials of the Federal Ministry of External Affairs and British military advisers.

Federal officials confirmed that Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa has approved the deployment as part of Nigeria’s policy of supporting African stability and cooperation.

A spokesman for the UN mission in Lagos said the Nigerian party would coordinate with Ghanaian and Ethiopian units already on the ground in the Congo.

The government stressed the operation is non-combat, focused on peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance.

Major General N.L. Foster, commander of the Royal Niger Army, said the reconnaissance team will spend several weeks in the Congo gathering information and establishing contact with UN officials.

“Our role is peaceful — to observe, to report, and to assist,” Foster said. “We will work alongside the United Nations to ensure the ceasefire is respected and humanitarian aid reaches those in need.”

He noted that the men were volunteers drawn from the Royal Niger Army and had received brief training in UN peacekeeping procedures.

The 12-man party, led by the General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Military Force, Major General N.L. Foster departed at 06:30 a.m from Ikeja Airport aboard a United Nations-chartered DC-4 aircraft.

The group marks Nigeria’s first contribution to the UN Operation in the Congo (ONUC), established to restore peace following the Congo’s independence crisis.

General Foster said the mission is to carry out reconnaissance and liaison duties ahead of a larger Nigerian contingent.

“Nigeria answers the call of the United Nations to uphold peace and order in the Congo,” he told reporters at the airport. “We are here to assist in observation and to help protect civilians in accordance with the UN mandate.”

The departure was seen off by senior officials of the Federal Ministry of External Affairs and British military advisers.

Federal officials confirmed that Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa has approved the deployment as part of Nigeria’s policy of supporting African stability and cooperation.

A spokesman for the UN mission in Lagos said the Nigerian party would coordinate with Ghanaian and Ethiopian units already on the ground in the Congo.

The government stressed the operation is non-combat, focused on peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance.

Major General N.L. Foster, commander of the Royal Niger Army, said the reconnaissance team will spend several weeks in the Congo gathering information and establishing contact with UN officials.

“Our role is peaceful — to observe, to report, and to assist,” Foster said. “We will work alongside the United Nations to ensure the ceasefire is respected and humanitarian aid reaches those in need.”

He noted that the men were volunteers drawn from the Royal Niger Army and had received brief training in UN peacekeeping procedures.

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