The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has launched a specialised Battlefield Mortuary Affairs Programme aimed at strengthening the Nigerian Armed Forces’ capacity to identify, recover and manage the remains of military personnel killed during combat operations with dignity and professionalism.
The week-long training, taking place at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna from July 27 to August 1, brings together participants from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force. The programme is designed to equip personnel with practical and technical skills required for the proper identification, documentation, recovery and handling of deceased military personnel in line with international humanitarian standards.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Deputy Director of the Defence Identification Centre, Air Commodore Chukwuma Ohanele, described the initiative as a significant milestone in the collaboration between the Defence Headquarters and the ICRC. He noted that the increasing tempo of military operations across the country has made battlefield fatalities inevitable, underscoring the need for a structured and professional approach to managing the dead.
Ohanele explained that the programme would provide participants with the knowledge and operational skills needed to address challenges associated with battlefield deaths while ensuring respect for human dignity. He stressed that managing the dead in conflict situations extends beyond technical procedures and represents both a humanitarian and moral obligation for the Armed Forces.
According to him, the training curriculum combines classroom instruction with practical field exercises and covers critical areas such as search and recovery operations, Explosive Ordnance Disposal awareness, establishment of mortuary collection points, preliminary examination of human remains, respectful storage, transportation and repatriation of bodies, temporary burials and cemetery management. Participants will also receive instruction on the humanitarian role of the ICRC, relevant provisions of international humanitarian law and Nigerian military doctrine guiding battlefield mortuary operations.
Ohanele added that indoor and outdoor exercises, alongside assessment tests, would ensure participants are able to apply the acquired knowledge effectively during military operations. He commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, for approving the initiative and acknowledged the support of the Defence Headquarters, Defence Identification Centre, the Nigerian Air Force School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine, the Regiment Training School and the ICRC in making the programme possible.
Also speaking, the Commandant of the Nigerian Air Force School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine, Air Vice Marshal Anthony Ekpe, described the training as both timely and necessary. He observed that soldiers are sometimes killed under severe combat conditions that make identification of bodies or body parts extremely difficult, creating additional challenges for military authorities and bereaved families.
Ekpe said the programme would improve the Armed Forces’ ability to accurately identify fallen personnel, provide closure to grieving families and ensure deceased service members receive dignified burials. He thanked the Defence Headquarters and the ICRC for selecting the institution to host the inaugural training and urged participants from the three services to fully engage with the programme.
The ICRC’s Forensic Manager, Dr. Habib El TaKach, said the initiative resulted from discussions that began in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2024. He described the programme as the first of its kind and expressed confidence that it would significantly improve the identification of military personnel killed during conflicts, reduce the number of missing persons and provide families with accurate information about the fate of their loved ones.
TaKach explained that successful identification requires meticulous planning and documentation at every stage, including the recovery of remains, proper transportation, photography, video recording and the collection of biological samples. According to him, these procedures are essential to ensuring reliable identification and giving families the certainty and closure they deserve.
The Battlefield Mortuary Affairs Programme is expected to enhance the operational readiness of the Nigerian Armed Forces by institutionalising internationally accepted standards for the identification, recovery and dignified management of military personnel who lose their lives in the line of duty, while reinforcing the military’s commitment to professionalism, accountability and respect for human dignity.
