Delta slain officers, soldiers get National honours, heroes’ burial in Abuja
Anchored by Ahmad Ayuba
In a ceremony conducted in full military colours and tradition, the Soldiers and their commanders who were killed last March 14th at Okuoma, Delta state, were laid to rest at the national military cemetery, Abuja.
In its solemn conduct and circumstances of their death, the State burial accorded the four Officers and thirteen Soldiers cast a vivid throw back to a similarly grim incident of the burial of nineteen Officers and Men of the Nigerian Army on the 24th October, 2001, nearly twenty three years ago.
Like the massacre at Okuama, Delta state, the 2001 killing of nineteen soldiers was carried out by Tiv irate youths in Zaki-Biam and sorrounding Tiv- populated villages in Benue state. Just as it was at Zaki-Biam, the soldiers who were gruesomely felled in an ambush in Okuama, were on a peace keeping mission.
The last Wednesday’s national internment ceremony, evoked a high level of passion and grief among citizens beyond immediate family members, relatives and colleagues in the military community. That was, among other facts, evident in the intense outpouring of angst and condemnation that had trailed the massacre since it occured.
According to reports by our team of correspondents, several citizens present at the national military cemetery, venue of the burial and those who were watching on television sets, passions particularly went up when the procession of the national heroes arrived in separate ambulances at the their final resting place. Several openly wailed as many more could not hold back their tears.
READ ALSO: Youths in Delta State ambush, kill 16 Army personnel on peace mission
In his tribute paid on the occasion, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, eulogised the slain military personnel as gallant warriors who paid the supreme price of laying down their lives in the course of service to their fatherland.
A visibly angry President Tinubu said, “they would not have died in vain” just, as he vowed that the criminals who perpetuated the act, will not escape justice.”We will get them”, he assured.
The President on the occasion, announced the posthumous confferement of national honours on all the seventeen victims of the Okuama massacre. The four Officers were given the National Honour of, Member of the Order of the Niger, MON, while the thirteen Soldiers were each conferred with the National Honour of, Officer of the Federal Republic, OFR.
Additionally, he announced the provision of houses to the inheritors of the deceased “gallant defenders of the nation” in any part of the country, as well as full federal government scholarship to their children, “including those now in their mothers wombs”, all through their education.
In the words of the President:
“Each of the men now belongs to the hallowed list of service men and women who defended our country and protected their fellow Nigerians not minding the risks to their own lives.
READ ALSO: Army retrieves 14 mutilated bodies of slain soldiers in Delta
“They have all been awarded now a posthumous National Honour. Four gallant officers have been accorded the award of Members of the Order of Niger (MON). The thirteen courageous soldiers who also lost their lives have been awarded the Officers of the Federal Republic medals.
“It is now our duty to protect the families of our departed heroes. The Federal Government will provide housing in any part of our country to each of the families of the four officers and thirteen soldiers that were among them.
“The Federal Government has also approved scholarships to all children of the deceased up to university level including those who are in the womb. To the military, we appeal to you to within the next 90 days ensure that all benefits of the departed are paid,”
The Okuama Seventeen who were buried on Wednesday, 27th March, 2024 were:
Commanding Officer 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt. Col. A.H Ali; Maj S.D Shafa (N/13976); Maj D.E Obi (N/14395) and Capt U Zakari (N/16348).
The soldiers were, Staff Sgt Yahaya Saidu (#3NA/36/2974); Cpl Yahaya Danbaba (1ONA/65/7274); Cpl Kabiru Bashir (11NA/66/9853); LCpl Bulus Haruna (16NA/TS/5844); LCpl Sola Opeyemi (17NA/760719); LCpl Bello Anas (17NA/76/290); LCpl Hamman Peter (NA/T82653); LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi (18NA/77/1191); Pte Alhaji Isah (17NA/76/6079); Pte Clement Francis (19NA/78/0911); Pte Abubakar Ali (19NA/78/2162); Pte Ibrahim Adamu (19NA/78/6079) and Pte Adamu Ibrahim (21NA/80/4795).
