The Chief of Defence Administration, Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim, has called for the respectful recovery, identification and management of military personnel who die during battlefield operations.
Kachim said dignified treatment of fallen troops could strengthen morale within the armed forces, provide comfort to bereaved families and improve public confidence in the military.
He spoke on Saturday, August 1, 2026, during the closing ceremony of the Battlefield Mortuary Affairs Programme Training at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna.
Kachim was represented at the event by the Deputy Director of the Defence Identification Centre, Air Commodore Chukwuma Ohanele.
Training Focuses on Battlefield Recovery
The defence administration chief said the programme was important to military professionalism, humanitarian responsibility and respect for human dignity.
Participants received theoretical and practical instruction in locating, recovering, identifying, documenting and respectfully handling deceased persons in operational environments.
Kachim said personnel assigned to battlefield mortuary duties must demonstrate compassion, accountability and respect, even when operating under difficult conditions.
He explained that professional management of the dead was an important part of military responsibility and should not be treated as an afterthought.
Programme Aligns With Defence Strategy
According to Kachim, Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede approved the training because it supported his vision of a disciplined, ethical and people-focused Nigerian military.
He said the programme also aligned with the military leadership’s commitment to personnel welfare.
Kachim stressed that the welfare of service members should remain a priority during their lifetime and after death.
He said rapid search, rescue, evacuation and medical treatment of wounded personnel could improve confidence among troops deployed to combat areas.
Similarly, he noted that the prompt recovery, identification and dignified handling of fallen personnel could reassure soldiers that they and their families would not be abandoned.
Dignified Recovery Can Boost Morale
Kachim said the proper application of the skills gained during the programme would improve troop welfare and strengthen support for military families.
He added that professional battlefield mortuary practices could enhance the reputation of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The defence chief urged participants to apply the training in their respective formations and pass the knowledge to other personnel.
He reminded them that respecting the dead was also a way of honouring surviving troops and reinforcing the ethical standards of the military.
ICRC Praised for Supporting Training
Kachim commended the International Committee of the Red Cross for facilitating the programme and improving the military’s capacity in human identification and dignified management of deceased persons.
He described the ICRC’s contribution to humanitarian standards within armed forces around the world as highly valuable.
The Nigerian Air Force was also praised for providing the facilities required for the successful conduct of the training.
Kachim specifically acknowledged the officers and personnel of the NAF School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine and the Regiment Training School.
Participants Undergo Practical Sessions
Ohanele, who also served as coordinator of the programme, thanked the Nigerian Air Force and the ICRC for their support.
He said participants completed both classroom and outdoor sessions during the training.
The practical activities included laboratory procedures, physical exercises, the handling of weights and other field-based tasks relevant to battlefield mortuary operations.
Ohanele described the programme as distinctive because of its strong practical component.
He congratulated the participants and encouraged them to use their new skills to improve battlefield mortuary services and related professional practices.
Six-Day Programme Completed
Manager of the ICRC African Centre for Medicolegal Systems, Stephen Fonseca, thanked the Nigerian Air Force for supporting the training.
He said the programme placed particular emphasis on ensuring that deceased persons were treated respectfully and professionally.
Fonseca praised the participants for their discipline, resilience and commitment throughout the six-day course.
He also acknowledged the military leadership, medical training personnel and support teams responsible for logistics, equipment and other arrangements.
According to him, preparations for the programme had lasted about two years before it was successfully delivered through cooperation between the ICRC and the Nigerian Air Force.
Fonseca expressed confidence that the participants were now prepared to advise military commanders and serve as advocates for missing and deceased persons.
He said they could also guide personnel responsible for recovering, identifying and caring for the remains of those who die during military operations.
