The President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, has awarded national honours to two senior Nigerian military officers in recognition of their contributions to peace and regional stability.
The awards were presented during the 17th Armed Forces Day celebration of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, held in Freetown.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, and a former Chief of Defence Staff, Martin Luther Agwai, were both decorated with the prestigious Grand Commander of the Order of the Rokel. The honour recognised their roles in promoting peace and stability in Sierra Leone, particularly during the country’s civil war.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelA statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the award conferred on General Oluyede acknowledged his service under the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). It highlighted that his efforts, alongside other Nigerian officers and soldiers, were instrumental in restoring peace and safeguarding Sierra Leone’s sovereignty.
During the ceremony, Oluyede was recognised for serving in Sierra Leone as part of ECOMOG between 1992 and 1994, deployed as a Platoon Commander at the residence of the then Head of State. His citation praised his leadership, professionalism and commitment to protecting constitutional authority.
In addition to the Nigerian recipients, four other distinguished officers were honoured: Daniel Opande of Kenya, Ibrahima Sory Bangoura of Guinea, Paul Rogers of the United States, and Edward Butler of the United Kingdom.
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The event paid tribute to several countries for their contributions to regional security, with particular homage to the Nigerian Armed Forces for their courage, sacrifice and solidarity during Sierra Leone’s civil war. The Nigerian contingent under ECOMOG was commended for its bravery, resilience and protection of civilians during a critical period in the nation’s history.
The ceremony underscored Sierra Leone’s enduring appreciation of the role played by regional and international partners in achieving lasting peace and stability.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
