• Gives posthumous awards; families get houses, scholarships, fast-tracked benefits
• Armed Forces will stand by dependents of deceased, says COAS

Amid tears from loved ones, the remains of 17 members of the Nigerian armed forces killed in Okuama, Delta State, on March 14, 2024, were laid to rest yesterday, at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja.

While nothing might ever bring them back, President Bola Tinubu, with a “heavy heart”, assured members of the Armed Forces that the slain soldiers “will forever be remembered as heroes who answered the call of duty and paid the ultimate price.”

He also announced posthumous national honours to four officers, who were, each, awarded Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), while 13 soldiers were, each, awarded Officer of the Federal Republic Medal.

“The Federal Government will provide a house in any part of our country to each of the families of the four officers and 13 soldiers. The Federal Government has also approved scholarships to all the children of the deceased up to the university level. The military must, within the next ninety days, ensure that all the benefits of the departed are paid to their families,” the President said, describing the gesture as “our duty to protect the families of our departed heroes.”

He told grieving personnel: “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.”

The President recalled the mission that led to their death, saying: “On March 14, Lt. Colonel A. H. Ali, the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, led three other officers and 13 soldiers to the Okuama community to mediate in the lingering dispute with Okoloba community.

They went as peace makers and peace keepers, respectfully seeking to bring an end to the hostilities between the two communities. They didn’t go with tanks, machine guns and other weapons. They were on a mission of peace.”

Contrary to reports that troops carried out vengeful missions, following the killings, the President commended the Armed Forces “for their restraint in choosing not to carry out any reprisal attacks in Okuama or its neighbouring communities,” and added: “We must all ensure that the innocent people of Okuama are not made to bear the punishment of the guilty and wicked among them.”

President Tinubu affirmed that 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.”

Tinubu declared that killers of the soldiers “will not go unpunished”, vowing: “We will find them and our departed heroes will get justice.”

He also charged the elders and chiefs of Okuama community, saying they “have a duty to help the military in fishing out the gunmen who committed the barbaric crime against our men.”

The slain soldiers were: Lieutenant Colonel Ali, Major D.E Obi, Major S.D. Ashafa, Captain U. Zakari, Staff Sergeant Yahaya Saidu, Corporal Danbaba Yahaya, Corporal Kabir Bashir, Lance Corporal Abdullahi Ibrahim, Lance Corporal Bulus Haruna, Lance Corporal Sole Opeyemi, Lance Corporal Bello Anas; Private Alhaji Isah, Private Clement Francis, Private Abubakar Ali, Private Adamu Ibrahim, Private Hamman Peter, and Private Ibrahim Adamu.

Their bodies were ambulanced to the National Cemetery at about 2.30 p.m.

Families of the bereaved families and guests were seated before 3:00 p.m., awaiting the arrival of President Tinubu, who showed up at 4:06 p.m.

On the President’s entourage were the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

Others were Governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Ahmed Usman Ododo (Kogi), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano), AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq (Kwara), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa).

Also in attendance were the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla; Chief of Air Staff, Hassan Abubakar; and Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa.

In his speech, Lagbaja explained: “As the Chief of Army Staff, I consider putting fine men and women in harm’s way, sometimes knowing that they may not return to their families and loved ones, my toughest job. Correspondingly and intriguingly, my men know that when I send them out, despite the equipment, training, and other forms of preparations, sometimes some may not make it back alive, while some may return handicapped or invalid.

“Ours is a profession that deals with matters of life and death. When soldiers die in the hands of the enemies of the state, we take it as dying for what the nation has considered a just cause; we celebrate them as gallant heroes. But when they are gruesomely murdered by the very people they are trained, equipped, and took an oath to protect, it is highly demoralising.”

He said: “The Okuama 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.”

He promised that the Nigerian Army will not leave them in the cold. “We shall do all within our power to provide succour to them and preserve the memories of their departed loved ones.”