Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has clarified figure on the proposed regional counterinsurgency force and commended Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for hosting the ongoing Maiden Edition of meeting of the African Chiefs of Defence Staff at this auspicious time when the continent is facing myriads of existential security challenges.
This was contained in a statement signed by Dr. Sani Adamu, on behalf of ECOWAS. The statement reads: “The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) wishes to commend Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, on the hosting of the on-going Maiden Edition of meeting of the African Chiefs of Defence Staff at this auspicious time when the continent is facing myriads of existential security challenges.
The statement further stated: ” ECOWAS wishes to use this opportunity to clarify that the figure for its proposed regional counterinsurgency force is actually Five Thousand (5,000) but starting with an initial brigade of one thousand six hundred and fifty (1650). This is contrary to the 260,000 contained in its statement at the opening ceremony of the African Defence Chiefs Summit in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, which was based on typographical error.
“The Commission regrets the error and wishes to request that the press reflect this correction to avoid further misconceptions about the force,” it also added.
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