Presidential Guards Brigade (Nigeria)
| Presidential Guards Brigade | |
|---|---|
 Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inspecting the Presidential Guard Brigade during his visit to Abuja in October 2007. | |
| Active | September 1962 – present |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| Branch |  Nigerian Army |
| Type | Honor guard Combat Unit |
| Role | The protection of the President of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory. |
| Size | Brigade (3 battalions) |
| Headquarters | Camp Wu Bassey, Abuja |
| Nickname(s) | The Brigade of Guards |
| Anniversaries | Armed Forces Day |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Brigadier General Adebisi Onasanya |
| Notable commanders |
|
The Presidential Guards Brigade is an elite brigade of the Nigerian Army responsible for protecting the President of Nigeria. The members of the brigade are a group of Nigerian soldiers who guard the residence of the President and his guests, as well as perform ceremonial duties. Also referred to as the Brigade of Guards, this unit, according to AllAfrica with reference to a senior army official, "does not answer to Army Headquarters or to the Chief of Army Staff in any operational matters and its commander is completely integrated into the President's security team."[1]
Composition
[edit]It is composed of the following smaller units:
- Headquarters
- 3 Guards Battalion
- 7 Guards Battalion (Lungi Barracks, Maitama)
- 26 Guards Battalion
- 102 Guards Battalion (Suleja)
- 176 Guards Battalion (Gwagwalada)
- 177 Guards Battalion (Keffi)
- Guards Brigade Medical Centre (Yakubu Gowon Barracks, Mambilla, Asokoro)
- Guards Brigade Band
- Silent Drill Platoon[4]
History
[edit]
The Presidential Guard Brigade of the Nigerian Army was formed in September 1962 as the Federal Guards. It was created for the purpose of carrying out ceremonial and security duties in Lagos and Abuja similar to the role of the British Household Division in London.[5] In May 1966, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, who was the leader of the Nigerian military junta, renamed the Federal Guards to the National Guards. The soldiers who killed Ironsi on 29 July 1966, were drawn from the National Guards unit in Lagos. This operation lead to significant controversy over the area of responsibility and chain of command within the brigade.[1][6]
In late 2018, the brigade was accused of carrying out a massacre in the capital of Abuja against Shia Muslims who were members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. The protesters of the IMN who were at the scene were protesting the imprisonment of Ibrahim Zakzaky, a Shia cleric who is the leader of the IMN and has stayed in detention since December 2016. At least 45 IMN protesters were killed in the massacre.[7][8]
Protective duties
[edit]The Guards Brigade provides security for the following individuals in the Nigerian presidential line of succession and with relevance to the President:
- President of Nigeria
- First Lady of Nigeria
- Vice President of Nigeria
- President of Senate
- Speaker House of Representatives
- Chief Justice of Nigeria
It works with the Nigeria Police Force in securing any area in the Federal Capital Territory.
Ceremonial actions and other traditions
[edit]
Members of the brigade stand at the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock and also raise and lower the national flag at ceremonies and parades. The brigade holds a weekly changing of the guard ceremony outside Aso Villa.[9] It also mounts the guard of honor on behalf of the Nigerian Armed Forces during national events such as the Armed Forces Day festivities and the national Independence Day Parade. It has also mounted the guard of honor during state arrival ceremonies for foreign dignitaries who undertake state visits to Abuja. Dignitaries who have inspected the brigade while on state visits have included Dmitry Medvedev, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Jacob Zuma. Regular performances also took place at occasions when foreign ambassadors presented their diplomatic credentials to the President, as well as during the official arrival and departure of the State President from various cities, especially those cities in which his official residences were situated.
Other past ceremonial events in which the PG was present include the following:
- In 2010, the brigade solemnly escorted President Umaru Yar'Adua as he returned to Nigeria shortly before his death.[10]
- The brigade fired a 21-gun salute during the Inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari on 29 May 2015.[11]
- The brigade's drill unit took part in the August 2019 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo alongside the Guards Band.[12][13][14][15]
- During the acting presidency of Yemi Osinbajo in the spring of 2017, the Guards Band performed special Yoruba honor songs every time he returned to the presidential residence.[16]
- In 2018, the guards performed a routine during the National Day in Cameroon.[17]
- In 2017 the Guards Brigade showcased a colorful change of presidential guard's parade in front of the cenotaph in Abuja.[18]
Regimental dinner
[edit]The brigade holds an annual regimental dinner at the brigade's mess hall (nicknamed Scorpion Mess) of the Brigade of Guards. It is usually held at the end of the year and takes place annually. As per protocol, the semi-formal green mess dress uniform is usually worn by officers and personnel on this occasion. In 2016, a special dinner was held in honor of the victories over Boko Haram, with President Buhari being the guest of honor. During the dinner, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai presented a captured Boko Haram flag, recovered from Camp Zero, to the brigade. President Buhari also for a brief moment directed the Guards Brigade Band.[19]
Sports competition
[edit]The Guards Brigade Sporting Competition is held annually by the brigade as an inter-unit tournament of sports such as: football, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, boxing, judo, taekwondo, and a combat relay race.[20] Units that have participated in the past include 176 Battalion, 177 Guards Battalion, 102 Battalion and the Guards Brigade Garrison.[21]
Brigade cemetery
[edit]The Guards Brigade cemetery located off Murtala Muhammed Way in Abuja. It serves as a place for the burial of serving and retired brigade personnel. The cemetery was inaugurated in 2017 to commemorate Armed Forces Remembrance Day.[22] It was created as part of an initiative by General Buratai, who directed all army formations to set up their own unit cemeteries. The cemetery comprises a cenotaph, memorial hall and guard house for soldiers on duty.[23]
Commanders
[edit]- Brigadier Wellington Duke Bassey (September 1962 – 1968)[24]
- Colonel Joseph Nanven Garba (1968 – February 1976)
- Brigadier Mamman Jiya Vatsa (February 1976 – 1979)
- Colonel Mohammed Kaliel (1981–1984)[25]
- Lieutenant Colonel Abdulazeez Sabo Aliyu (1984–1985)
- Colonel John Mark Inienger (1988–1989)
- Brigadier General Bashir Salihi Magashi (1993–1996)
- Major General Babagana Monguno (August 2007 – January 2009)
- Brigadier General A.S. Mustapha (2009–2010)
- Major General Musa Sani Yusuf (2014–2018)
- Brigadier General Umar Thomas Musa (2018 – 4 August 2019)[26]
- Brigadier General Mohammed Takuti Usman (4 August 2019 – 20 January 2023)
- Brigadier General Aminu Umar (20 January 2023 – 4 July 2023)[27]
- Brigadier General Adebisi Olusola Onasanya (4 July 2023 – present)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Idris, Abdullahi (1 March 2010). "Nigeria: How Guards Brigade Operates, By Senior Officer". Allafrica.com. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Azu, John Chuks (22 May 2019). "How a bagpiper aroused Buhari's interest in the Scottish music". Daily Trust.
- ^ "'The story of bagpipe as part of presidential fleet'". Daily Trust. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2019". CinemaLive. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
- ^ "Preventing Coups in Nigeria* (Part 4)". gamji.com. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- ^ "Yar'Adua: Group asks N-Assembly to summon COAS". 2 March 2010.
- ^ Koettl, Christoph; Akinwotu, Emmanuel; Browne, Malachy; Reneau, Natalie; Tiefenthäler, Ainara; Botti, David; Hurst, Whitney (30 July 2019). "How an Elite Nigerian Unit Killed Dozens of Protesters". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Nigerian soldiers shoot dozens of peaceful Shia protesters | Nigeria | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com.
- ^ Adio, Segun (23 August 2017). "Guards Brigade to hold weekly change of guard outside Aso Villa". The Sun Nigeria.
- ^ "President Yaradua arrives back from Saudi Arabia throws presidency into confusion". Nigerian Muse news. 24 February 2010.
- ^ "Presidential Inauguration: Army Alerts Public On Firing Of Artillery Guns". 19 May 2015.
- ^ Admin (8 August 2019). "Nigerian Army Band's display at Scotland's international military event is one of the most beautiful things you will watch on the internet today (video)". WebsFavourites.Com. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ Omotayo, Joseph (8 August 2019). "Video shows Nigerian soldiers performing at UK royal parade to wild applause". www.legit.ng. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Video: Nigerian military's eye-popping display in Edinburgh everyone is praising". P.M. News. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Through a Kaleidoscope - The Edinburgh Tattoo showcase for 2019". Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
- ^ "Guards Brigade's special tunes for Osinbajo". Punch Newspapers. 4 March 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Cameroon celebrates military cooperation with Nigeria on 46th National Day". www.prc.cm. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ Mutum, Ronald (23 August 2017). "Guards Brigade spectacle change of presidential guards' parade". Daily trust. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "President Buhari Attends Guards Brigade Dinner Night At Scorpion Mess – NTA.ng – Breaking News, Nigeria, Africa, Worldwide". Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "2018 Guards Brigade Games: 7 Guard's Battalion emerges winner". Vanguard News. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Guards Brigade Sports Week 2020: 7 Guards Battalion emerge overall winners; Sports Minister hails spirit of competitiveness". Security King Nigeria. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Buratai opens Guards Brigade cemetery". Vanguard News. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "Nigerian Army inaugurates Guards Brigade cemetery – Chronicle.ng". Chronicle.ng. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Barracks". www.gamji.com. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Arah, Two Others Join All States Board". ThisDay. 21 May 2004. Archived from the original on 17 August 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- ^ "President Buhari receives in new commander guards brigade". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ Kanu, Peace Piak (20 January 2023). "Guards Brigade: New Commander assumes office in Abuja". Voice of Nigeria. Retrieved 5 February 2023.