Nigeria and Sierra Leone Enhance Military Ties for Security

On October 14, 2026, Lieutenant General Shaibu, the Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria, met with Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura, the Chief of Defence Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja. The meeting focused on strengthening military cooperation to tackle emerging security threats in the region.

Lieutenant General Shaibu highlighted Nigeria's historical contributions to peace support operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone under the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). He emphasized the need for stronger defence partnerships among ECOWAS member states, advocating for intelligence sharing, joint training, and improved operational coordination against transnational threats.

Shaibu expressed concern over the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS and called for sustained diplomatic engagement. He congratulated Bangura on completing his tenure as Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff and reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to enhancing bilateral defence relations.

Bangura acknowledged Nigeria's role in restoring peace in Sierra Leone and pledged to continue military cooperation.