As Nation Mourns, Hell Coming for Bandits who Killed 22 soldiers, 3 Officers in Niger

By Zacchaeus Fijabi

Tears flowed freely at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja, Friday, as the earthly remains of the  22 Nigerian soldiers killed in an ambush by daredevil bandits in Niger State on Monday, August 14, 2023..

Move tears were provoked as the young widows and kids of the slain national heroes were heralded into the eerie ambience of the burial ground to pay their bread winners last respects.

There heart-rending scenes of young widows weeping uncontrollably sending sorrowful eulogies to their slain husbands.

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, evoked emotions as he curdled a boy, while he comforted widows and relatives of the national heroes.

The sombre event was attended by close relatives, families, friends, colleagues of the late soldiers and senior military officers. They all trooped to the cemetery to bid the slain heroes farewell.

Even some soldiers fought back tears as the earthly remains of the heroes were laid to rest in their graves with full military honours. Sorrow was palpable in the air you could almost slice it with a knife. Even if your heart were made of steel the heart-rending scenes around the families of the slain soldiers would melt it. Even the Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru was crest fallen.

Leading mourners at the cemetery were Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa,  as well as the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla; and the Deputy Governor of Niger State, Mr. Yakubu Garba, who represented his boss, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago.

In the spirit of that sorrowful moment, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, gave out an order to all military commanders and troops in the country to move speedily to avenge the death of the slain national heroes by smoking the blood-mongering terrorists out of their hell holes and send them to hell where they rightly belong.

The Defence Chief swore that the military would not be discouraged by the gruesome murder of thee soldiers and officers but would hunt down bandits, terrorists, and other criminal elements troubling the peace of Nigeria and dispatch them to hell.

“We will ensure those who did this must pay for this,” General Musa declared. “I use this opportunity to call on all commanders and troops all over Nigeria that we must avenge this. Those who did this, and those who continue to kill our men, wherever they are, we will get them, we will smoke them out and we will ensure that they never have any other opportunity to kill any other person, that I assure you.

“We will hunt you down, we will bring you to justice. We will not relent until we get those causing havoc in the country.”

The distraught Defence Chief expressed deep sorrow and pain over the tragic incident, declaring: “Today is one of the most difficult days in every commander’s mind, because when you have to bury your own, you feel highly pained. But I want to assure the families that their death is not in vain.”

Musa eulogised the fallen heroes for paying the supreme sacrifice in defence of the nation.

“Today, we gather here with heavy hearts and tearful eyes to bid farewell to our fallen heroes in the Armed Forces of Nigeria, who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our nation.

“We stand here today to honour their courage, dedication and commitment to duty. Their lives were abruptly taken from us in the line of duty while responding to a distress call in the Chikoba community in Shiroro, Local Government Area in Niger State.

“We gather not only to believe they are lost, but also to celebrate their lives and extra extraordinary contributions to our beloved nation. We are gathered here today not only as great family members, friends and colleagues, but also as the nation united.

“These following years exemplify the very best of what it means to serve and protect our nation. They were the vendors of peace, the guardians of our freedom and the sentinels of our security; their selflessness and unwavering dedication to duty will forever be etched in our hearts and memories.”

Praising the departed soldiers and officers for braving all the odds in the service of the nation, General Musa further declared: “Today, we bid farewell to men who dedicated their lives to the cause of safeguarding our nation. They were men and women of honour and integrity. They accepted the call to serve, fully aware of the dangers that lay ahead. And yet they never were rewarded in their commitment to protecting the lives and property of our fellow citizens.

“They were sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers.

“To the families, who have lost loved ones, we give our deepest condolences. We cannot begin to fathom the pain and sorrow that we are experiencing. Know that deep in your heart, you are not alone in your grief.

“The entire nation and the Armed Forces are with you and are still ready to support you in any possible way. We recognise that no word can ease your pain, but we hope that you’ll find solace in the knowledge that your loved ones left an indelible mark in our nation’s history.”

It was indeed a deluge of eulogies and many, at the event, praised the fallen heroes to high heavens, showing deep gratitude for their sacrifice, praying for the sweet repose of their souls. They also prayed God to comfort their families.

Recall that on  Monday, August 14, 2023, a military aircraft conveying wounded soldiers from the scene of an ambush by bandits in Wushishi Local Government Area, crashed in Chukuba village, Shiroro LGA in Niger state. Defence Headquarters cleared the air on the conflicting casualty figures, disclosing that three officers and 22 soldiers were killed during the ambush and helicopter crash.

Below are some photos from the burial ceremony in Abuja, courtesy of THE CABLE: