It was a stirring moment as President Bola Tinubu led several governors, federal lawmakers, military top brass, and dignitaries to lay wreaths in honour of the slain officers and soldiers and pay last respect to the departed gallant soldier.
The Matrix reports that the officers and soldiers were murdered by criminals of the riverine community of Okuama on March 14, 2024 when the men in uniform were on a peace mission to warring Okuama and Okoloba communities in the area.
However, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, several dignitaries which include the President; several state governors, federal lawmakers, and dignitaries gathered to honour them with a befitting burial at the Military Cemetery, Abuja.
Governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq (Kwara), and Abba Yusuf (Kano) were present to honour the slain military personnel.
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Also, in attendance at the burial ceremony were Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa amongst other military top brass.
Speaking at the solemn event, President Tinubu conferred national posthumous awards on 17 slain military personnel while also announcing scholarships and house gifts for the children and families of the slain military personnel.
Four slain officers were awarded the honour of Members of the Order of the Niger (MON) while 13 slain soldiers were honoured with Officers of the Federal Republic medals.
Speaking at the burial, Tinubu paid special tributes to Lt. Colonel A. H. Ali, the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion who led the team while recalling a brief conversation he had with the Chief of Army Staff.
“Before the dastardly attack, Lt. Colonel Ali, as the Chief of Army Staff briefed me, enjoyed great operational exploits; fighting terrorists and insurgents in the North East and North West before his deployment to the Niger Delta.
“Ali kept faith with his military calling till the end. On behalf of a grateful nation, we honour the sacrifice of Ali and the other gallant patriots who died that day.
Each man now belongs to the hallowed list of servicemen and women who defended our country and protected their fellow Nigerians not minding the risk to their own lives.”
Speaking further, the President said, “I commiserate with the families of our fallen heroes and the entire Armed Forces. I share in the pain and grief you carry today. It is my prayer that God will comfort all who are bereaved as a result of this tragedy. It is worth restating the debt of gratitude we owe these valiant soldiers and their families.
“As Commander-In-Chief, I do not take the contributions of members of our Armed Forces for granted. I recognise your valour and bravery. I honour your unflinching commitment to making our country safe from criminals, bandits, kidnappers and insurrectionists.
“While we continue to grieve for the courageous men we lost that day, let us also, on this solemn occasion, be reminded of the unfinished business of working for peace and harmony in our communities.
“We must begin to rebuild our communities and make them into places where love, tolerance and harmony will reign. Leaders at all levels, especially community leaders and traditional rulers must work to strengthen the bonds that unite us. We must end the cycle of violence and bloodletting.
“I want to make it clear, once more, that those who committed this heinous crime will not go unpunished. We will find them and our departed heroes will get justice.
“The elders and chiefs of Okuama also have a duty to help the military in fishing out the gunmen who committed the barbaric crime against our men.
“I wish to also commend our Armed Forces for their restraint in choosing not to carry out any reprisal attacks in Okuama or its neighbouring communities. We must all ensure that the innocent people of Okuama are not made to bear the punishment of the guilty and wicked among them.”
Speaking directly to the entire Armed Forces, he said, “I have a message for you: Do not let the death of your compatriots discourage you. There is no higher honour than the vocation you have chosen to pursue. We cherish you.
“We cherish your labour of love. We salute your daily sacrifice in protecting your fellow citizens from danger. We acknowledge your sacrifices to defend our nation.”
Tinubu noted that within the continent, the sub-region and across the world, the Nigerian Military has remained a force for good, embodying a great example and keeping the country’s democracy safe.
The President gave the military 90 days to pay all benefits to the families of the slain officers and soldiers.
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Similarly, speaking at the event, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, assured the grieving families of the slain soldiers that their sacrifice will not be in vain.
In his address at the burial ceremony, the CDS said, “To our fallen heroes, we say, ‘thank you’, thank you for our unwavering commitment to duty, your sacrifices and your love for our nation. You served bravely and your courage will never be forgotten.
“We will honour your memory by continuing to fight those who seek to undermine our peace and security. We will remain steadfast in our resolve to build a nation worthy of your sacrifice. This sacrifice will not go in vain.
“The loss we feel today is immeasurable but we must not allow it to deem the lights of our renewed hope within us, instead, let us use this moment as a rallying cry to come together as a nation to support our Armed Forces and to work tirelessly towards a Nigeria free of the grip of violence and insecurity.
“We owe it to these fallen heroes to honour their memory by redoubling our efforts to create a safer and more prosperous nation for all.”
General Musa also vowed that the military will hunt down the perpetrators of the heinous act and bring them to justice.
“To the perpetrators of this violence, who seek to sow divisions among our people, take this from me – our resolve will not wither, we will hunt you down, we will bring you to justice and we will restore peace and security in every nook and cranny of our dear nation.
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“Your evil actions may cause pain and suffering but they will never extinguish the spirit of unity and resilience that burns within us,” the CDS said.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja, has assured the family members of slain soldiers’ maximum support of the military.
The COAS described the killing of the soldiers as “most barbaric”, saying it took 72 hours after the unfortunate incident to recover the mutilated bodies of the slain soldiers.
Lt-General Lagbaja reiterated the Army’s commitment to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book and recover all missing weapons.
He said three of the widows of the slain soldiers are pregnant. He assured the families of the fallen soldiers of maximum support from the Nigerian Army.
He said, “The Okuoma killing has added to the care of the Nigerian Army and by extension, the Nigerian State, 10 widows, three of whom are four, five and eight months’ pregnant, 21 orphans and many other dependents which include parents.
“While commiserating with the families of these gallant soldiers, I assure them that the Nigerian Army and the good people of this country will not leave them in the cold.”
