The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has commenced a specialised Battlefield Mortuary Affairs Programme aimed at improving the identification, recovery and dignified management of military personnel killed during combat operations.
The week-long training, taking place at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna from July 27 to August 1, 2026, has brought together participants from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Deputy Director of the Defence Identification Centre, Air Commodore Chukwuma Ohanele, described the programme as a significant step toward addressing the growing challenges associated with battlefield casualties amid the Armed Forces' ongoing operations across the country.
According to him, the training will equip military personnel with modern skills in identifying fallen soldiers, recovering remains and ensuring respectful handling and burial in line with international humanitarian standards.
Ohanele noted that the programme, organised jointly with the ICRC, reflects the military's commitment to professionalism, accountability and respect for human dignity.
Participants will receive both theoretical and practical training on search and recovery operations, explosive ordnance awareness, establishment of mortuary collection points, examination of remains, storage, transportation, repatriation and temporary burial procedures. The programme also includes lessons on international humanitarian law and Nigerian military doctrine.
The Commandant of the Nigerian Air Force School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine, Air Vice Marshal Anthony Ekpe, said the training was timely, stressing that some military personnel lose their lives in circumstances that make identification difficult.
He said improving identification procedures would help provide closure for families of fallen soldiers and ensure they receive dignified burials.
Also speaking, ICRC Forensic Manager Dr. Habib El TaKach explained that the initiative grew out of discussions that began in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2024. He said it is the first programme of its kind and is expected to reduce the number of missing military personnel by strengthening forensic identification processes.
He added that proper documentation, including photographs, videos and biological samples, is essential for accurately identifying deceased personnel and giving their families clear answers about the fate of their loved ones.
The Battlefield Mortuary Affairs Programme is expected to strengthen the operational readiness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria by promoting internationally recognised standards for the recovery, identification and dignified handling of soldiers killed during military operations.
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