Gen. Martin Luther Agwai: Nigeria’s Celebrated ‘Soldier Of Peace’

It was vintage General Martin Luther Agwai on November 24, 2025, when as typical of him, he spoke truth to power.

The occasion was the 10th anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) in Abuja, where he warned that Nigeria risks deeper insecurity and national fragility unless it confronts worsening ethnic and religious divisions

He attributed these to the elite’s struggle for power and resources.

Agwai told the audience, “It is we, the elite, that are the problem of the country. It is not the farmer in my village or the fisherman in your village. It is we that are out to destroy in the name of competition, in the name of owning things, to destroy other people and in the process destroy ourselves and our nation.”

The retired Army General is known for his audacity and is admired in Nigeria’s military circles.

The 77-year-old General has also been acknowledged globally as an “outstanding peacekeeper” due to his role in the return of peace and political stability in the once war-ravaged Sierra Leone and later Sudan.

His exceptional leadership, professionalism and commitment to peace, which dominated his distinguished military career, led him to be the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He was the Army chief from 2003 to 2006 and CDS from 2006 to 2008 in that administration.

Agwai’s humility, intellectual prowess, focus on training and advocacy for democratic values, alongside his ability to inspire hope and unity, have over time cemented his revered status.

He led major peacekeeping operations, including the African Union nd United Nations (AU/UN’s) Hybrid Operation in Darfur, earning him global respect and the title “Soldier of Peace” for his approach to conflict resolution.

Gen. Agwai led the team that disarmed over 5,000 rebels in Sierra Leone in a 30-day engagement, thereby bringing lasting peace to the country to date.

General Agwai narrated how he led rebels to surrender weapons in Sierra Leone.

Narrating how he achieved the peace deal in Sierra Leone at the recent Abuja event, Agwai said,  “I called the rebels and fixed a meeting with the Commander despite warnings not to engage the rebels.

“I was told that our helicopter will be shot down. I said I have a remedy for shooting down our helicopter. I have the remedy of surviving on the ground. The only one I don’t have is if we are detained or kidnapped, and made prisoners of war, I don’t have any remedy for how to come out. That was the reality of the issue,” he said.

Agwai continued, “When the helicopter arrived at the pick-up destination, I looked, our helicopter was not shot down. I looked through the window. And I saw them (fighters) with three women, and they came in: five men, two women. They introduced her to me as a woman leader. I knew they wouldn’t shoot down a helicopter with their women leader.”

“So, I went. And I saw a semi-state. They rolled their red carpet.

I don’t know where they found it. And they went and bought a motorcycle and an outrider to take me to the exercise. And that was the beginning. When they agreed to meet, for the first meeting for eight hours, neither side spoke to the other.

“After three days for two weeks, I asked them to put tea here on the side of the arranger.

And then the sugar and milk on the side of the arranger. So, they asked, ‘Where do you put the sugar?’ I replied, Ask your brother. That’s how they started talking. And almost, within one week, 150 armed men left their T-shirts, carried their weapons and gave them to our Bangladeshi Company that was waiting there. And that is how, in 30 days, on both sides, we were able to disarm over 5,000 fighters.”

Agwai is a true example of a soldier who has dedicated his life to promoting peace and stability. His achievements and legacy serve as a testament to his unwavering commitment to peacekeeping and he remains an inspiration to many.

Agwai’s legacy is one of promoting peace, stability, and democratic values in Nigeria and Africa. He continues to inspire hope and unity, and his commitment to peacekeeping has earned him the moniker “Soldier of Peace”.

Agwai’s “Hot Spot” disarmament strategy proved effective in encouraging rebels to surrender. He engaged in talks with rebel leaders, including the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), to establish a ceasefire and promote disarmament.

His forces maintained a strong military presence, applying pressure on rebels to surrender without resorting to excessive force.

Born on 8th November, 1948, in Kagoro in Southern Kaduna, he began his primary education at the Native Authority School in Jaban Kogo where he lived with his maternal grandmother.

He was commissioned into the Nigerian Armed Forces in 1972 and has held several positions. Agwai has received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to peacekeeping, including the Nigerian National Award and Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2004. He has also received honorary doctorate degrees from four Nigerian universities.

In retirement, the four-star General remains useful on both national and international scenes. Agwai serves as a visiting professor at the African Leadership Centre, King’s College, London, and is currently the director of the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute, Abeokuta, Ogun State.