AU pays tribute to two peacekeepers killed in Darfur

1. For the third time this year 2007, we are gathered here once more to pay a glowing tribute to our late colleagues, Private Andrew Adaidu and Private Musa Wahab, Nigerians by nationality, who arrived in Darfur on 3rd and 5Th September 2006 respectively as members of the Nigerian Protection Force (NIBATT 7) deployed to Graida MGS (Sector 2). Private Adaidu and Wahab lost their lives after being abducted following a cowardly attack on their patrol team in the Graida area on 5th March 07. They were subsequently brutally murdered for no justified or justifiable reasons whilst in the service of humanity. However, they have been assessed by all and sundry to be hard and diligent workers who never relented on their duties. They were strict disciplinarians with profound religious convictions but yet also remained affable and respectful. The totality of the sterling qualities of these two exemplary and outstanding Nigerian Military Officers endeared them to the hearts of all those who came into contact with them, particularly the local citizenry and Internally Displaced Persons in the various camps in the Graida AOR and even beyond.

2. To you, brothers Andrew and Musa – whilst you are about to commence your final journey into eternity, we, your colleagues of AMIS and the people of DARFUR salute you for the fruitful and positive contributions you made in creating a peaceful environment such that the people of DARFUR can enjoy their normal lives. With your conduct as fine and disciplined soldiers, we also salute your memory, courage and act of gallantry. Indeed your contributions will never be in vain for we, your colleagues, will continue with the struggle until final solution is found to the DARFUR problem. We promise you that we will never be fazed by cowardly acts of terrorism and uncivilized behaviour which have cost you your dear lives in the name of humanity. These dastardly acts are often times committed under the disguise of some form of sanctimonious hypocritical righteousness. They are totally alien to and have no place whatsoever in Christianity or Islam. This is precisely the reason why we further pledge and promise, in the name of our Almighty GOD, that our knees will never bend or buckle in the face of anything until we finish the selfless work you have started with total abnegation in response to the clarion call of our beloved continent Mother AFRICA.

3. To our dear brothers and sisters of NIGERIA, the Force Commander and his troops, We, the members of the AMIS family and the peoples of DARFUR share in equal proportion the grief occasioned by the untimely death of such dedicated, reliable, selfless and hardworking personalities as Andrew and Musa.

4. On behalf of the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union and the entire members of the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and in the name of the good peoples of the Sudan in general and particularly the civilian populations of Darfur and singularly of GRAIDA, I would like to convey our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to the bereaved families of our late colleagues, to the members of NIBATT 7 and, last but not least, to our dear brother and sisters of the Nigerian community in the Darfur region. In giving thanks to our fallen heroes’ most fulfilling and exemplary lives, we continue to pray that the Almighty God will give all of us, especially their kith and kin, the strength to come to terms with the irreplaceable and painful loss of such dedicated gentlemen.

5. Andrew Adaidu and Musa Wahab, on my part, I bid you farewell. Rest peacefully in the arms of Your MAKER in Heaven until we meet again.

6. May the Almighty GOD reserve for you an enviable and blessed place in HIS Paradise and Heaven in your capacity as PEACE MAKERS that you indeed and most certainly are. May your souls rest in eternal and perfect peace.

R. I. P (Requiescat in Pace).
AMEN