ASHENEWS reports that President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday announced the donation of houses and scholarships to families of all the soldiers killed in Okuama Community in Delta state.
Tinubu while speaking at the burial of the personnel burial at the National Cemetery in Abuja said that the officers and soldiers gave up their lives to defend and protect their nation hence the need to recognise their sacrifice and honour them accordingly.
“They went as peace makers and peace keepers respectfully seeking to bring an end to the hostilities between the two communities.
“They didn’t go with tanks, machine guns and other weapons.
“They were on a mission of peace.
“It is now our duty to protect the families of our departed heroes.
“The Federal Government will provide a house in any part of our country to each of the families of the four officers and 13 soldiers.
“The Federal Government has also approved scholarships to all the children of the deceased up to the University level.
“The Military must, within the next ninety days, ensure that all the benefits of the departed are paid to their families.
“They have all been awarded posthumous national honours. The four gallant officers have been accorded the Award of Member of the Order of Niger (MON). The thirteen courageous soldiers who also lost their lives have been Awarded the Officer of the Federal Republic Medal,” Tinubu said.
The president while commiserating with the families of the deceased stressed that the perpetrators of the heinous act will not go unpunished.
This online platform reports that the soldiers were ambushed on 14th March 2024 while on a peacekeeping mission in Delta State.
The troops led by Lt. Colonel A. H. Ali, the Commanding Officer of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, also had three other officers and 13 soldiers all of whom were sent to the Okuama Community to mediate in the lingering dispute with another community, the Okoloba Community.
The soldiers and officers of the Nigerian Army who died during the incident included;
• 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,
