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]
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]
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev inspecting the Guards Brigade during a visit to Nigeria in June 2009.
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]
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 2017 the Guards Brigade showcased a colorful change of presidential guard's parade in front of the cenotaph in Abuja.[18]
Regimental dinner
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 GeneralTukur 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
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
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
Brigadier Wellington Duke Bassey (September 1962–1968)[24]
^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.
Nigeria
Nigerian Army
