In a poignant ceremony marked by solemnity and grief, President Bola Tinubu, accompanied by governors, federal lawmakers, military leaders, and mourners, gathered at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, to bid farewell to 17 gallant military personnel brutally murdered in Delta State.
The somber event, held on Wednesday, saw President Tinubu leading the assembly as the Special Guest of Honour, joined by dignitaries from across the nation to pay their last respects to the fallen heroes who met their untimely demise following an ambush in Okuoma village, Delta State.
Among the dignitaries present were the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar; and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, all gathered to honour the memory of the slain soldiers.
Members of the legislative arm were also in attendance, with Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, leading their respective chambers in paying tribute to the fallen heroes.
The grim reality of the soldiers’ sacrifice was underscored by COAS Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja, who lamented the demoralizing irony of citizens the soldiers sought to protect turning against them, resulting in their brutal demise.
The slain military personnel were said to have responded to a distress call stemming from a communal land dispute, only to meet a tragic fate at the hands of those they sought to aid. The heinous nature of the attack, which saw beheaded corpses and mutilated remains, shocked the nation to its core.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, condemnation has poured in from all quarters, with President Tinubu condemning the attack as an assault on the nation itself. He issued stern directives to security agencies to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators, vowing that the fallen soldiers would be posthumously honored with national recognition.
The Defence Headquarters has released the names of the fallen, including the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, two majors, one captain, and 12 personnel of the battalion. Their sacrifice serves as a stark reminder of the perilous nature of their service and the ultimate price they paid in the line of duty.
As the nation mourns the loss of these brave souls, the call for justice grows louder, echoing the sentiments of a grieving populace determined to see the perpetrators brought to account for their heinous crimes against those who swore to defend and protect.