2 Majors,13 soldiers killed by Boko Harm
buried amidst tears - Two Army Majors
and thirteen soldiers killed by Boko Haram
Terrorists in the North Eastern states of
Borno, Yobe, as well as UNAMID operations
in Darfur, Sudan, were yesterday given
national burial at the National Military
Cemetery in Abuja with President Goodluck
Jonathan insisting that the nation will win
the war on terror. At the burial ceremony
which took place at the National Military
Cemetery, Abuja, scores of officers and men
of the force, amidst grieving relatives of the
gallant officers and men, Jonathan
represented by Vice President Namadi
Sambo described the death of the officers
and soldiers as a sacrifice for the nation's
unity. His words, "We are gathered here on a
sad note to honour our gallant officers and
men who have sacrificed their lives for the
peace and progress of our nation. On several
occasions and different for a, I have
reiterated the commitment of this
administration to strengthening and
improving the nation's security capabilities to
enable us confront challenges of the 21st
century". "As a result, this administration is
steadfastly involved and implementing
policies in the nation to tackle security
challenges, especially, the Boko Haram
terrorism and insurgency.
"Currently in order to face the threat
headlong I declared a state of emergency in
three northern states of Adamawa, Borno
and Yobe on 14 May 2013. The Chief of
Defence Staff was mandated to deploy
troops to take all necessary actions within
the ambits of their rules of engagement to
deal with the impunity of insurgence and
terrorism". "Today, we are here gathered to
lay to bury the remains of two officers and
13 soldiers who gallantly paid the supreme
price as a result of this directive. As we
mourn and bury them, I hereby reiterate
that their sacrifices shall not and will never
be in vain". "We mourn but we take solace in
the fact that we are winning the war.
Members of the armed forces will appreciate
that in military operations like this there are
bound to be casualties". "We are here
gathered to pay our last respect to our
gallant officers and men, and we shall give
them befitting burial. To the family of the
deceased gallant officers and soldiers, we
assure you that we shall not forsake you in
this trying time. We assure you that all
benefits due you shall be promptly paid." The
15 soldiers killed Major Abdullahi Fambiya,
Major Abdulllahi Kanoma, Staff Sgt. Keku
Adebayo, Corporal Ahmed Usman, Cpl.
Mathew Ade, Lcpl. Adamu Ibrahim, Lcpl.
Suleiman Gimba, Lcpl Saduaki Salisu, Lcpl
Usman David, Lcpl. Olusola Ajani, Private
Zakariya Dauda, Private Daniel Kantona,
Private Nya Bassey, Private Bassey Emmanuel
and Private Enyenihi Effiong. Also speaking
at the event, Minister of State Defence, Dr.
Erelu Olusola Obada stated that the country
appreciates the bravery of the fallen
officers and men, and promised federal
government's support for the military. "On
behalf of the armed forces, I want to
reiterate that the gallant efforts of these
men who proudly showcased the great spirit
and tenacity to serve and save our nation
from destructive elements shall not be in
vain. We therefore see their death as noble
in the course of duty to serve humanity".
"The nation appreciates the great sacrifice
of these men and other members of the
armed forces of Nigeria who continued to
make sacrifices to ensure enduring peace in
our nation and other parts of the African
continent. We are committed to doing our
best in supporting the armed forces in the
call to duty and ensure the unity of Nigeria".
"Let me end by saying, and I quote, 'good men
must die but death cannot kill your names'
and the names of our fallen heroes will never
die in our hearts". Speaking on behalf of the
next-of-kin's at the event, Pastor Iliya
Joshua called on government to thoroughly
investigate the cause of death of the
officers and men as their death remains a
mystery to them.
