UNITED NATIONS, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The joint United Nations-African Union mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Friday paid tribute to a Nigerian peacekeeper killed Wednesday on patrol in the Sudanese conflict area, said a UN press release.

    Speaking at a farewell ceremony in El Fasher, where UNAMID is headquartered, Force Commander Martin Luther Agwai who is also Nigerian said, "We are saddened that the young life and promising career of Major Gada was so suddenly cut short."

    Mohammed Yonis, UNAMID's Director of Administration, expressed his heartfelt condolences to Gada's family and to the government and people of Nigeria.

    "Such attacks on our peacekeepers will not impede our determination to continue working to help the people of Darfur," he said.

    The death of Major Shehu Abdullahi Gada, who was shot by unknown gunmen in Forobaranga, West Darfur, has brought the death toll of UNAMID peacekeepers killed in Darfur this year to nine.

    Just a week before Gada's death, seven UNAMID peacekeepers were killed and 19 wounded when they came under attack for three hours in North Darfur.