…Honours Slain Soldiers
By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has once again assured that those behind the killing of 17 military officers would be unmasked and punished accordingly.
Tinubu gave the assurance in his emotional address at the burial of the officers at the National Cemetery on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Abuja.
“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 President assured.
The officers were ambushed by some gunmen on March 14, 2024, while on a peace mission to bring an end to the hostilities between Okuama and Okolaba
communities in Delta State.
Tinubu said, “the elders and chiefs of Okuoma also have a duty to help the military in fishing out the gunmen who committed the barbaric crime against our men”.
Speaking further, President Tinubu said, the officers were patriots, brave and noble men who gave their lives to defend and protect the nation against internal and external threats, adding that their sacrifice would be remembered and honoured for generations to come.
“They will forever be remembered as heroes who answered the call of duty and paid the ultimate price”, he said.
President Tinubu announced that the Federal Government would provide a house in any part of the country to each of the families of the four officers and 13 soldiers.
He also said that the federal government has approved scholarships to all the children of the deceased up to the University level.
He ordered that the Military must, within the next ninety days, ensure that all the benefits of the departed are paid to their families.
In addition, Tinubu bestowed National Honours on the 17 fallen military officers.
The four military officers, Lt.Col Ali, Major Obi, SD Ashafa, and Captain Zakari earned the posthumous award of Member of the Order of the Niger(MON).
Sergeant Yahaya Sule got Federal Republic Medal 1, while the rest got Federal Republic Medal 11.
While saluting the military for its unflinching commitment to making the country safe from criminals, bandits, kidnappers, and insurrectionists, President Tinubu reminded them of the unfinished business of working for peace and harmony in the communities.
“We must begin to rebuild our communities and make them into places where love, tolerance, and harmony will reign”, he said.
The heroes 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.
