The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has launched a specialised Battlefield Mortuary Affairs Programme aimed at strengthening the identification, recovery and dignified management of military personnel killed during combat operations.
The week-long training, taking place from July 27 to August 1 at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna, 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 landmark initiative designed to address the growing challenges associated with battlefield fatalities amid the increasing pace of military operations across the country.
According to him, the collaboration between the Defence Headquarters and the ICRC will equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills required for proper military personnel identification and the respectful management of the deceased.
Ohanele noted that battlefield deaths have become an unavoidable reality due to the Armed Forces’ intensified operations, making specialised training essential.
He stressed that managing the dead during armed conflict is not only a technical responsibility but also a humanitarian and moral obligation. “In the complex realities of modern conflict, the management of the dead is not only a technical responsibility but also a moral and humanitarian obligation.
This programme is designed to strengthen our capacity while ensuring the Armed Forces maintain the highest standards of professionalism, accountability and respect for human dignity,” he said.
The training will include both theoretical and practical sessions covering search and recovery operations, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) awareness, the establishment of mortuary collection points, preliminary examination of remains, respectful storage, transportation and repatriation of human remains, as well as temporary burial procedures and cemetery establishment.
Participants will also receive instruction on the humanitarian role of the ICRC and the legal frameworks governing battlefield mortuary affairs, including international humanitarian law and Nigerian military doctrine. Ohanele added that the programme will feature indoor and outdoor exercises, alongside assessment tests, to ensure participants can effectively apply the knowledge gained in real operational environments.
