In a significant development, President Bola Tinubu has announced the allocation of scholarships for the children of soldiers who tragically lost their lives during a peacekeeping mission in Delta on March 14, 2024. This announcement was made during the solemn burial ceremony of the fallen soldiers in Abuja on Wednesday. President Tinubu, in recognition of their sacrifice, also conferred national honors upon 17 members of the Nigerian Army who perished in the Delta operation. Furthermore, he pledged the provision of housing facilities for the surviving family members and extended scholarships to support the education of all their children up to university level.
During the emotionally charged ceremony held at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja, President Tinubu directed the expedited payment of death benefits to the grieving family members within a 90-day timeframe. Additionally, in a poignant gesture, Tinubu posthumously conferred prestigious national honors upon several distinguished servicemen. Among those honored were Lt. Col. A.H Ali, Maj S.D Shafa, Maj D.E Obi, and Capt U Zakari, all of whom received the Member of the Order of the Niger accolade.
Furthermore, President Tinubu bestowed the Officer of the Order of the Niger title upon SSgt Yahaya Saidu, Cpl Yahaya Danbaba, Cpl Kabiru Bashir, LCpl Bulus Haruna, LCpl Sola Opeyemi, LCpl Bello Anas, LCpl Hamman Peter, LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi, Pte Alhaji Isah, Pte Clement Francis, Pte Abubakar Ali, Pte Ibrahim Adamu, and Pte Adamu Ibrahim, in recognition of their valiant service and ultimate sacrifice.
As the nation mourns the loss of these brave soldiers, President Tinubu’s gestures of support and recognition serve as a poignant reminder of the debt owed to those who lay down their lives in service to their country. Further details on this solemn occasion will be provided shortly.
