Presidential Guard Brigade (Nigeria)

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.

Nigerian Presidential Guards Brigade
Indian President Manmohan Singh inspecting the Presidential Guard Brigade during his visit to Abuja in October 2007.
ActiveSeptember 1962 (1962-09)
Country Nigeria
Branch Nigerian Army
TypeHonor Guard
Combat Unit
Military Police
RoleThe protection of the President of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.
SizeBrigade (3 battalions)
HeadquartersCamp Wu Bassey, Abuja
Nickname(s)The Brigade of Guards
AnniversariesArmed Forces Day
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadier General Muhammed Takuti Usman
Notable
commanders		Joseph Nanven Garba
John Mark Inienger

It is composed of the following smaller units:

  • 3rd Battalion
  • 7th Battalion (Lungi Barracks, Maitama)
  • 26th Battalion
  • Guards Brigade Band
  • Pipe Section[1]

History
President Jimmy Carter and General Olusegun Obasanjo at a welcoming ceremony performed by the Guards Brigade.

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.[2] 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 July 29, 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.[3][4]

Protective duties

The Guards Brigade provides security for the following individuals in the Nigerian presidential line of succession and with relevance to the President:

It works with the Nigeria Police Force in securing any area in the Federal Capital Territory.

Ceremonial actions and other traditions
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.[5] It also mounts the guard of honour 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 honour during state arrival ceremonies for foreign dignitaries who undertake state visits to Abuja. Dignitaries who have the inspected the brigade while on state visits have included Dmitry Medvedev, Recep Tayyip Erdogan 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.[6]
  • The brigade fired a 21 gun salute during the Inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari on 29 May 2015.[7]
  • The brigade's drill unit took part in the August 2019 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo alongside the Guards Band.[8][9][10][11]
  • During the acting presedency of Yemi Osinbajo in the spring of 2017. the Guards Band performed special Yoruba honour songs every time he returned to the presidential residence.[12]
  • In 2018, the guards performed a routine during the National Day in Cameroon.[13]

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 officrs 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 honour. During the dinner, the Army Chief, Lieutenant General Tukur 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.[14]

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.[15] Units that have participated in the past include 176 Battalion, 177 Guards Battalion, 102 Battalion and the Guards Brigade Garrison.[16]

Commanders
  • Brigadier Wellington Duke Bassey (September 1962 - 1968)[17]
  • Major General Joseph Nanven Garba (1968 - February 1976)
  • Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa (February 1976 - 1979)
  • Colonel Mohammed Kaliel (1981–1984).[18]
  • Major General Babagana Monguno (August 2007 – January 2009)
  • Brigader General Umar Thomas Musa (? - 4 August 2019[19]
  • Brigadier General Muhammed Takuti Usman (since 4 August 2019)

Allegations of massacres

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.[20][21]

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gollark: They would cool reactors, but only if observed with a backwards time axis (heaters).
gollark: Yes.
gollark: We need reactor heaters.
gollark: <@167658041028640768> Cooler idea: Cf-251 coolers, must be placed beside 4 cells, removes -1000H/t.

See also

References
  1. Azu, John Chuks (May 22, 2019). "How a bagpiper aroused Buhari's interest in the Scottish music". Daily Trust.
  2. "Preventing Coups in Nigeria* (Part 4)". http://www.gamji.com. Retrieved 2018-03-31. External link in |website= (help)
  3. https://allafrica.com/stories/201003010031.html
  4. "Yar'Adua: Group asks N-Assembly to summon COAS". March 2, 2010.
  5. Adio, Segun (August 23, 2017). "Guards Brigade to hold weekly change of guard outside Aso Villa". The Sun Nigeria.
  6. https://www.nigerianmuse.com/20100224220606zg/nigeria-watch/president-yaradua-arrives-back-from-saudi-arabia-throws-presidency-into-confusion/
  7. "Presidential Inauguration: Army Alerts Public On Firing Of Artillery Guns". May 19, 2015.
  8. Admin (2019-08-08). "Nigerian Army Band's display at Scotland's international military event is one of the most beautiful things you will watch on the internet today (video)". WebsFavourites.Com. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  9. Omotayo, Joseph (2019-08-08). "Video shows Nigerian soldiers performing at UK royal parade to wild applause". www.legit.ng. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  10. "Video: Nigerian military's eye-popping display in Edinburgh everyone is praising". P.M. News. 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  11. "Through a Kaleidoscope - The Edinburgh Tattoo showcase for 2019". Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
  12. https://punchng.com/guards-brigades-special-tunes-for-osinbajo/
  13. https://www.prc.cm/en/news/2846-cameroon-celebrates-military-cooperation-with-nigeria-on-46th-national-day
  14. https://www.nta.ng/news/20170101-scorpion/
  15. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/2018-guards-brigade-games-7-guards-battalion-emerges-winner/
  16. https://securitykingng.org/news/guards-brigade-sports-week-2020-7-guards-battalion-emerge-overall-winners-sports-minister-hails-spirit-of-competitiveness/
  17. http://www.gamji.com/nowa/nowa52.htm
  18. "Arah, Two Others Join All States Board". ThisDay. 2004-05-21. Archived from the original on 2009-08-17. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  19. http://thenationonlineng.net/president-buhari-receives-new-commander-guards-brigade/amp/
  20. Koettl, Christoph; Akinwotu, Emmanuel; Browne, Malachy; Reneau, Natalie; Tiefenthäler, Ainara; Botti, David; Hurst, Whitney (July 30, 2019). "How an Elite Nigerian Unit Killed Dozens of Protesters" – via NYTimes.com.
  21. "Nigerian soldiers shoot dozens of peaceful Shia protesters | Nigeria | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com.
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