Army buries 15 soldiers killed by Boko Haram, others

As if set for military parade, 15 caskets, caps, freshly dug graves, wheelbarrows loaded with red sand and the remains of 15 officers and men of the Nigerian Army killed in the line of duty, after the traditional 21 gun salute, were yesterday buried. 

  Meanwhile, the Army Thursday said it strongly believed in the unity of the country despite security challenges facing her.

  The assurance is coming in the heels of the release of a Lebanese attached to Setraco Construction Company, Toni Yosse who was kidnapped by gunmen three weeks ago in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

  In a related development, President Goodluck Jonathan has commended the Nigerian Diaspora community for the yearly remittance plowed into the country’s economy, which has continued to grow every year, even as he assured them of security for their investments.

 Two majors, Abdullahi Kanoma and A.T Fambiyi, one Staff sergeant, two corporals, four lance corporals, one lance bombardier and five privates of the Nigeria Army were the ones honoured and buried.

  President Jonathan represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said the calling of a soldier “is a hazardous job and moments like this are bound to come” but we must not loss focus on the bigger picture and put our acts together and defeat the enemy”.

  These “gallant soldiers paid the supreme price in order for the country to remain one. We have continued to improve capacity of our security agencies to tackle the current challenges of insecurity in the country, posed by insurgency. The burial today is an indication that we are winning the war”, he added.

  The Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika while commending the devotion of the officers to duty and high sense of responsibility, said “for paying the supreme sacrifice, these courageous officers and soldiers have made us and indeed every Nigerian proud. Undeniably, the gallantry and high sense of professionalism displayed by these gentlemen have contributed to the restoration of peace and normalcy to the Northern part of Nigeria.”

   “We are laying to rest 15 heroes comprising two officers and 13 soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice in the service of our dear nation. Eleven of these heroes lost their lives in operations in the North East, three were killed in operations in other parts of the North and one died while serving on peace keeping mission with the United Nations Mission in Darfur, Sudan,” Ihejirika said.

  While maintaining that the Defence Ministry was proud of the departed soldiers, the Minister of State Defence, Olusola Obada said their death was not in vain as it to ensure that the country remains.

  It was gathered yesterday Yosse was found at Obiaruku in Delta State at about 1 a.m. He was abducted three weeks ago at Upper Mission Road after a soldier guarding the expatriate workers was killed.

   Confirming Yosse’s release, Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Eguavoen (DSP) told The Guardian that the expatriate was released with two other victims including an executive member of the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

   It was learnt that the construction company had negotiated with the kidnappers with a view to securing Yosse’s release, but Eguavoen said he was not aware of any ransom paid before the foreigner’s release. 

  Commander of 4 Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Brigadier-General Pat Akem, who restated the military’s commitment to the nation’s unity, stated this at the inauguration of some projects executed by the 19 Battalion of the Operation Pulo Shield in Koko, Warri North Local Council of Delta State. 

  The projects include army quarters, clinics and office complex.

   Akem said the infrastructural developments going on in the army was to create the enabling environment for its officers to operate just as he said soldiers were making sacrifices for the country.       “Despite the security challenges including Boko Haram, the Army has continued to hold its own. If it were under a leadership that has no clue it could have been worse but under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff, the Nigeria Army has continued to develop to a level I dare say has never been witnessed since its establishment. In fact, the Army has never had it so good,” he added.

   Jonathan gave the assurance while delivering the opening address at the 6th National Diaspora Day and Conference in Abuja yesterday. He invited them to come home and be a part of the national transformation that is ongoing, saying the contribution of these set of Nigerians would not only engender accelerated national development but would also bring personal accomplishment and enhanced sense of patriotism.

  “Nigerians in Diaspora must now respond positively to the invitation to come home and contribute to the development of this nation…as we are also strengthening our democratic institutions and confronting, with great determination and firmness, the challenges of insecurity in some parts of our country,” he said.

  Represented by Sambo, the President said the example of other nations, especially India where the Diaspora community is the instrument used to hasten development were good models to emulate.

  Stating “the Indian experience in particular, has shown that Diaspora communities are important sources of Foreign Direct Investments, trade linkages and knowledge and technology transfer.”

  He maintained that with economic growth of 6.6 per cent in 2012, Nigeria is the fastest growing economy in the world and with reduced fiscal deficit in 2013 budget to 1.81 per cent of GDP, and significantly cut in domestic borrowing, and other economic inroads geared towards accelerated growth and economic prosperity.