Nigeria Honours Her Fallen Heroes At 2026 Armed Forces Celebration, Remembrance Day
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
Nigeria on January 15, 2026, paid solemn tribute to its fallen heroes at the Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD) Parade and Wreath-Laying Ceremony held at the National Arcade, Abuja.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, was represented at the event by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima.
The ceremony, conducted with full military honours and coordinated by the Commander, Guards Brigade, was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, senior government officials, and other national dignitaries.
Proceedings began with the sounding of the Last Post, followed by prayers for the nation as well as serving and fallen personnel, and the observance of a minute of silence in honour of members of the Armed Forces and security services who lost their lives in the line of duty. Artillery gun salutes were then fired, after which wreaths were laid in remembrance of the fallen.
The parade continued with the firing of three ceremonial volleys and the sounding of the Reveille, underscoring the enduring values of service, sacrifice, and duty. The Vice President and other senior officials subsequently signed the AFCRD Anniversary Register, formally recording the nation’s gratitude and remembrance.
In a symbolic gesture signifying peace, hope, and renewal, pigeons were released into the sky before the conclusion of the ceremony.
The event reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to honouring the sacrifices of its fallen heroes and upholding the ideals for which they gave their lives.
