Military and ICRC Launch Soldier Identification Training

The training program, which commenced on Monday at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna, is a collaboration between the Defence Headquarters and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) aimed at addressing the challenges of identifying military personnel killed in combat. The program will run until August 1 and includes participants from the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Air Commodore Chukwuma Ohanele, Deputy Director of the Defence Intelligence Centre (DIC), emphasized the importance of managing battlefield casualties as both a technical and moral obligation. The training covers battlefield mortuary affairs, international humanitarian law, and recovery operations, with practical exercises to prepare participants for operational environments.

Air Vice Marshal Anthony Ekpe noted the training's timeliness due to the complexities of ongoing military operations. Dr. Habib El TaKach from the ICRC described the program as the first global training of its kind, aimed at improving the identification of soldiers who die in conflict and providing closure for their families.