Monrovia, Liberia – United Nations Police Commissioner, Mr. Mohammed Alhassan, has said that the deployment of Nigerian Police peacekeepers in Liberia is a vital contribution to the success of the UNMIL’s mandate. Mr. Alhassan was speaking at a medal ceremony on 23 January, where he decorated eight Nigerian civilian police and two Immigration officers with UN peacekeeping medals on behalf of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Alan Doss.“As Police and Immigration officers, you assist and support the Liberia National Police in escorting, patrolling, recruitment, training, crowd control, and criminal investigations,” the Commissioner said. “You are also actively involved in the reform currently underway with Liberia’s Immigration Bureau. You are the foundation of our principle objective of maintaining law and order and public safety.” He praised Nigeria for being an important member and strong ally of the United Nations for many years, with a steady commitment to the ideals, principles and objectives of the United Nations. “You have shown the world how deeply you value international peace and security. The award of medals is a symbolic token of the gratitude the international community owes you, the peacekeepers of the United Nations, for your commitment and dedication to duty,” the UN Police Commissioner pointed out. Mr. Alhassan then reminded the Police and Immigration officers to always strictly abide by the Secretary-General’s policy of zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse: “We must always be on our best behaviour and work towards maintaining the respect and trust of the Liberian people.” He paid tribute to the Contingent Commander, Assistant Police Commissioner Mustapha Muhammed, for his excellent leadership, and the Police and Immigration officers for their spirit and determination. Nigerian Police, Immigration and Corrections officers are currently deployed in Monrovia, Bo-Sinje (Grand Cape Mount County), Barclayville (Grand Kru County), Salala (Margibi County), Toe Town (Grand Gedeh County), and Gbarnga (Bong County).Nigeria began contributing peacekeepers to United Nations peacekeeping missions as far back as 1960 starting with the first United Nations Mission in Congo. Since then Nigerian civilian Police officers and Formed Police Units have been serving in missions in UNTAG Namibia, UNTAC Cambodia, UNPROVOR Yugoslavia, UNAVEM I,II,III Angola, UNISON Somalia, UNMOZ Mozambique, UNMIR Rwanda, UNMBIH Bosnia-Herzegovina, UNTAET East Timor and UNAMSIL Sierra Leone. The medal award ceremony was attended by the Deputy Head of Mission of the Nigerian Embassy in Liberia, Mr. Folu Ogunbanwo, the Inspector-General, Liberia National Police, Ms. Beatrice Munah Sieh, Liberia’s Immigration and Naturalization Commissioner, Ms. Abla Williams, and other senior officers of the UN and Liberian Police.
