Kaduna: The Chief of Defence Administration, Rear Adm. Gideon Kachim, has emphasized the importance of dignified handling of battlefield fatalities to enhance troop morale and maintain public trust. This call was made during the conclusion of the Battlefield Mortuary Affairs Programme Training at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base in Kaduna.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Kachim, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Defence Identification Centre, Air Commodore Chukwuma Ohanele, stated that the training is fundamental to military professionalism, humanitarian responsibility, and respect for human dignity. The programme provided participants with essential knowledge and practical skills in the search, recovery, identification, documentation, and dignified handling of fallen personnel in battlefield scenarios.
Kachim emphasized that compassion, respect, and accountability must guide personnel engaged in mortuary affairs, especially in challenging operational environments. The Chief of Defence Sta
ff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, sanctioned the training to align with his strategic vision of cultivating a people-centred, ethically grounded, and professionally accountable military. The training also supports the strategic objective concerning troop welfare, highlighting that the welfare of military personnel should be prioritized both in life and death.
The Chief of Defence Administration noted that effective search, recovery, identification, and respectful management of deceased personnel could enhance troop morale, provide closure for families, and bolster public trust. He stated that applying the skills learned in the training would help improve troop morale, personnel and family welfare, and the military’s image.
Kachim expressed gratitude to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for facilitating the training and enhancing the capacity of military personnel in personnel identification and dignified management of the deceased. He praised the ICRC’s partnership in elevating humanitarian standa
rds within armed forces globally.
He urged participants to apply the acquired knowledge in their respective units and share the lessons with colleagues, emphasizing that preserving the dignity of the dead honors the living and strengthens the moral fabric of the armed forces. He also commended the NAF for providing the facilities and venues necessary for the successful conduct of the training, particularly the commandants, officers, and personnel of the NAF School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine and the Regiment Training School.
As the Coordinator of the programme, Ohanele acknowledged the support of the NAF and the ICRC in the successful execution of the training. He highlighted the comprehensive facilities provided by the NAF, which allowed participants to engage in both indoor and outdoor practical sessions, including laboratory work, physical exercises, and other field-based activities. Ohanele congratulated the participants on completing the training and encouraged them to apply their newfoun
d skills to improve professional practices in battlefield mortuary affairs.
In his remarks, Mr. Stephen Fonseca, Manager of ICRC African Centre for Medicolegal Systems, expressed gratitude to the NAF for the opportunity to conduct the training with a focus on ensuring that deceased persons are treated with dignity. He commended the participants for their diligence and commitment throughout the six-day programme and appreciated the NAF leadership and all personnel involved in supporting the training’s success. Fonseca affirmed that the training, which was two years in the making, was successfully delivered through the partnership between the NAF and ICRC, and expressed confidence that the participants are now well-prepared to guide commanders and serve as ambassadors for the missing and the deceased.