VICTOR AYENI captures the ache and grief suffered by households of Nigerian troopers who grapple with the tragic lack of their relations and family members killed within the line of responsibility
The weathered face of retired Warrant Officer, Zakari Aliu, father of the late Captain Usman Zakari, was etched with traces of sorrow and fatigue as he spoke.
Aliu’s eyes, as soon as stuffed with hope and dedication, are actually hole, reflecting the deep anguish of a mum or dad who has misplaced a baby.
Though he tried to search out solace within the data that his late 34-year-old son died a hero, serving his nation, the reminiscences of his late son have been like a dagger to his coronary heart, reopening wounds that will by no means totally heal.
Usman, who rose to the rank of a captain in January 2023, was one of many navy personnel gruesomely murdered by irate people within the Okuama neighborhood within the Ughelli South Native Authorities Space of Delta State.
In keeping with the official assertion issued by the Federal Authorities on March 17, “The incident occurred on Thursday, March 14, 2024, when our troops, responding to a disaster between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State, have been ambushed.
“A commanding officer, two majors, one captain, and 12 troopers sadly misplaced their lives. One civilian was additionally killed.”
Talking on the burial for the murdered personnel on the Nationwide Army Cemetery in Abuja, Aliu, who was himself a soldier for 35 years, disclosed that Usman joined the service in 2015.
“He was a really obedient son. As a father, anytime I spoke to him, he seemed down. He didn’t elevate his head to have a look at my eyes; he was my first son. Since he joined the navy, no accusing fingers have been pointed at him by his colleagues. He stayed with me all via his college days.
“He was married with no baby but. He was anticipating one earlier than his dying, his spouse is pregnant. It hurts me as a father once I hear it however it’s one thing you may’t revert.
“I’ll nonetheless permit my son to hitch the navy; what occurred was an accident. I joined it (the navy) and completed efficiently. I used to be untouched all through my service 12 months. This may occur to anybody at any time; it was an accident,” he mentioned.
Concerning his son’s murderers, Aliu added, “I go away them within the fingers of the Federal Authorities. It’s already dealing with that.”
Plight of a grieving mom
A dense mist of sorrow hung across the residence of the late Commanding Officer of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Abdullahi Ali, one other sufferer of the Okuama murders.
As a younger man, Abdullahi joined the Military in 1996 as a member of the 43 consumption following his commencement from the Usman Danfodiyo College, Sokoto.
Struggling beneath the load of crushing grief, his mom, Hassana, paused at intervals as she recalled how her late son used to continuously take permission to go to her earlier than returning to his work.
“He’s my favorite baby,” the mom of the late 48-year-old senior officer mentioned.
“I don’t know what to do. His dying is bitter in my coronary heart, however God is aware of the very best. The final time he got here to see me was simply two weeks in the past.
“Actually, it’s devastating as a result of he’s now the fourth one I misplaced. I’ve nothing to say however God is watching. He was superb to me; I lacked nothing from him. I’ve nothing to inform them (the perpetrators, however God is watching everybody; he’ll decide on the ultimate day,” she said in an interview with Day by day Belief.
The distraught mom recounted how Abdullahi’s brother, additionally an officer of the Nigerian Military, was killed by suspected bandits in an ambush in Katsina State in 2019.
“His brother, Captain Jamilu Ali Hassan, additionally paid the supreme worth in 2019 in Katsina State. His colleagues instructed me that they have been helpless, in order that they allowed him to be killed in a way that nobody would want, even his enemy.
“I don’t know what to do. I’m speechless. But when anyone has a hand on this, God is watching and He’ll decide accordingly,” she added, noting that her late husband, additionally a navy man, died peacefully after his retirement.
Amid tears, the spouse of the deceased, Hauwa Ali, described the daddy of six as a very devoted man who sacrificed his life for Nigeria.
She lamented, “Phrases can not describe him as a result of he was all the pieces to us. He was a person of his phrase, devoted to each his household and work.
“Aside from his household, he sacrificed his life for Nigeria, and that’s the worth he has paid. I pray that wherever he’s, God will proceed to be with him.
“We all know that dying is inevitable. As Muslims, now we have to die in some unspecified time in the future in time, however I’m actually shattered by the best way my husband was killed. He referred to as me that very day and instructed me that he was occurring a peace mission.
“I by no means knew that it was the final time we’d communicate. No one might name to inform me the information till Saturday, once I was referred to as from the State Home.”
When she was requested if she would permit a few of her youngsters to hitch the navy, she famous, “I cannot advise any of his youngsters to hitch the navy. Their father has already sacrificed his life for the nation.”
My son was about to get married – Grieving mom
The mom of the late Non-public Peter Hamman, Mrs Hanatu Hamman, broke down in tears as she recounted how her deceased son had been her main supply of economic assist.
Peter, who was among the many slain navy personnel in Okuama, was enlisted into the Nigerian Military on 23 April 2019.
Talking on the mass burial service held final Wednesday, Hanatu mentioned, “This my son, something I say he’ll hear me. When he joined the military, he was the one who gave me cash to feed and even deal with my well being once I was down.
“When something occurred to me, I referred to as him directly and he despatched me cash to resolve my drawback. Now that he’s no extra, I nonetheless give God the glory.
“I’m in God’s hand now, I don’t have anybody to run to for assist. These troopers that survived, could God assist and defend them as they do their job. My son was planning to get married earlier than his dying.”
Equally, Ahmed Abutu, the brother of Lance Corporal Abdul Ibrahim, described the deceased because the breadwinner of the household, noting that the information of his dying in the course of the incident in Okuama got here with nice shock.
“It’s a terrific loss to the household; there may be nothing that can compensate for the lifetime of a person. He died combating for this nation, so that’s our comfort. So if the federal government feels that that is what they will do, in line with Mr President that that is what they will do for the household, we respect them.
“For the perpetrators, a felony shouldn’t be alleged to reside within the society, so anyplace they’re, they (the authorities) ought to fish them out. Our safety companies ought to exit day and evening to convey these folks to e-book. We’ll be grateful,” Abutu added.
21 orphans, 10 widows
Throughout the burial of the slain troopers on March 27, the Chief of Military Workers Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, disclosed that the slain troopers left behind 4 pregnant wives, 10 widows and 21 orphans.
He added that it took over 72 hours to get better some important organs of the decapitated and disemboweled our bodies of the troopers that have been scattered all around the Okuama neighborhood by the perpetrators and their accomplices.
“The Okuama killing has added to the care of the Nigerian Military and, by extension, the Nigeria state, 10 widows (three of whom are 4, 5, and eight months pregnant), 21 orphans, and lots of different dependents which embrace dad and mom,” Lagbaja said.
Throughout the ceremony, President Bola Tinubu conferred posthumous nationwide honours on the 17 slain navy personnel, noting that “every man now belongs to the hallowed listing of servicemen and ladies who defended our nation and guarded their fellow Nigerians, not minding the chance to their very own lives”.
“They’ve all been awarded posthumous nationwide honours. The 4 gallant officers have been accorded the award of Member of the Order of Niger. The 13 brave troopers who additionally misplaced their lives have been awarded the Officer of the Federal Republic medal.”
The President additionally promised to supply housing for every of the households of the 4 officers and 13 troopers in any a part of the nation in addition to scholarships as much as the college for the kids of the deceased, together with the unborn.
Tinubu additional directed the navy excessive command to pay the advantages of the fallen heroes inside 90 days.
Tunnels of ache
Regardless of the gnomic guarantees made by the federal government, Opeyemi, a soldier who misplaced his elder brother to the chilly fingers of dying nonetheless reels from the ache of loss.
“My brother, Salaudeen, died final 12 months in March in an ambush by bandits. He died by serving Nigeria and defending the folks. He was a courageous soldier. He promised to serve on the job and retire however dying took him away.
“I do know that in the future, we should all die, however not like this. The ache is an excessive amount of for us. Could God bless the Nigerian Military and should the soul of my pretty brother proceed to relaxation in peace,” Opeyemi mentioned, in a chat with our Sunday PUNCH.
Additionally sharing his painful ordeal, Isaac Tobi, the elder brother of Lawrence Tobi, a soldier who was killed by Boko Haram terrorists, disclosed that he suggested him towards becoming a member of the Nigerian Military.
Lawrence was among the many troopers killed in January 2021 when insurgents engaged the Nigerian navy in a four-hour battle to take management of the Dikwa neighborhood in Borno State.
The assault occurred just a few hours after then Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, handed over to Maj Gen Ibrahim Attahiru because the Chief of Military Workers.
The gun battle which reportedly began about 6 pm and lasted until round 10 pm, claimed many casualties, together with Lawrence.
Isaac instructed Sahara Reporters, “Tobi Lawrence was my solely brother. My mom had 5 youngsters – three women and two boys. I’m the primary baby whereas Tobi Lawrence was the final baby of my mom. In 2015, he instructed me he needed to hitch the Nigerian Military however I instructed him to hitch the Nigeria Police Drive as a substitute.
“He got here again to me and mentioned he didn’t need to be part of the police and insisted on being a soldier. So, I had no possibility however to assist him. We began the journey (to get him to turn out to be a soldier) however he couldn’t make it as a result of he was not shortlisted.
“So, the next 12 months, that was 2016, he instructed me we should always proceed with the race for him to be enlisted as a soldier. So we began consulting, and we spoke to somebody named Fidelix at Ogida Barracks in Benin (Edo State); it was the person who truly helped us, he made my late brother enlist within the Nigerian Military.
“Per week earlier than his demise, my brother referred to as me that they have been going to the forest. They have been instructed to hold some issues alongside to fulfill those that have been already contained in the forest. Often, after they go within the morning, they return late within the night.
“The day he was killed, he referred to as me within the morning to say they have been on their method. So within the night, I waited for him to name me however he didn’t. I turned apprehensive as a result of he had promised to name me within the night. I attempted his quantity a number of occasions, nevertheless it didn’t join.
“The subsequent day, which was a Saturday, I began calling him nevertheless it was the identical factor. Then somebody referred to as me with a wierd quantity and requested if I used to be Tobi Isaac, I mentioned sure. Then he instructed me what occurred. I requested him how and he instructed me it was a Boko Haram assault.”
He additional recalled how a lot monetary assist he used to obtain from his brother.
“I miss him very a lot, he used to assist me. As soon as I referred to as him and mentioned, ‘My brother, I don’t have any money,’ he would ship cash to me,” he added.
On his half, Obinna Uzor lamented how his brother, a soldier, had barely spent six months in Borno State the place he was posted in 2019 when he was brutally killed by Boko Haram terrorists.
“Jim bought married in 2018 and on July 17, 2019, he despatched in phrases that his newly married spouse simply delivered a child boy and we rejoiced. Then on September 19, he knowledgeable me about his posting from Kaduna to Borno to battle Boko Haram; he instructed me he was on his approach to Maiduguri.
“We rightly had combined emotions about it, however as a real soldier, disciplined and brave, Jim had no alternative. He believed that it was God’s will and when he reached his vacation spot safely, he continued in his work, just for me to obtain the information of his violent demise on March 14, 2020,” he mentioned.
“He cherished everybody as a household. He referred to as everybody ‘My paddy’ and was a jovial man. He was at all times in my ideas when that 12 months started, particularly when my father died and I didn’t hear from him. I started nursing some deep-seated worry.
“The painful half was that we have been broke early in 2020, so we didn’t talk by way of chats and phone calls, however he was at all times in our prayers solely to obtain information of his demise. My brother could also be gone, however I do know and he too is aware of it doesn’t finish right here. The battle continues till the enemies are defeated and destroyed,” he added.
In a Fb publish dated March 27, 2019, Aminu Muhammad, narrated how his household tried to discourage his late youthful brother, Akeem, from turning into a soldier.
He sadly recalled how Akeem was lastly enlisted within the military and his main posting was to fight Boko Haram, noting that he had escaped dying on 4 events earlier than he misplaced his life on the age of 27.
He wrote, “Rising up, all you needed so passionately to do was serve Nigeria as a soldier. All efforts to discourage you failed. After attempting thrice and failing, we thought you’d quit particularly because you have been already incomes cash in Minna. However once more, you tried the fourth time and succeeded.
“You lastly bought what you had at all times needed from childhood. Your first main posting was to go face Boko Haram. Many felt it’s best to go away however, you’d at all times say, ‘It’s a job I took for Nigeria.’
“4 occasions you escaped lethal assaults with a lot of your colleagues killed in some circumstances. On a regular basis, you’d ask us to maintain praying for you relatively than asking you to go away since you received’t.
“Once more, your crew of 15 males got here beneath assault. The car you have been travelling in was bombed by Boko Haram. All of your colleagues we have been instructed died besides you. Whereas most have been past recognition, you survived with shattered legs. We discovered a approach to thank God that at the very least you survived.”
He added, “We didn’t know your survival was going to be transient. We have been to be instructed later once more that you just couldn’t keep it up. The Nigeria you have been passionate to serve, you died for her. How might I’ve imagined that you’d go earlier than me once I buried your placenta 27 years in the past?
“Thanks to your passionate service to Nigeria. Relaxation in peace, my brother. Akeem my brother, it’s painful to bid you farewell. However, who’re we when God has decided? Could Allah in his infinite kindness flip your struggling within the military which you severally narrated as restitution for all of your sins.”
Too many fallen heroes
Findings by Sunday PUNCH. revealed that dozens of Nigerian troopers have been ambushed and gruesomely murdered by Boko Haram members, Islamic State of West African terrorists, bandits, and different non-state actors.
The Nationwide Safety Tracker run by the Council on Overseas Relations, between January 1 and Could 15 of 2022 confirmed that criminals killed 323 safety brokers throughout the nation. The victims included troopers, amongst others.
A report by a geopolitical intelligence platform, SBM Intelligence, revealed that no fewer than 642 troopers have been killed between the fourth quarter of 2020 and the third quarter of 2021, noting that about 72 troopers have to date been killed by terrorists as of April 2022.
On January 22, 2021, Boko Haram ambushed and fired machine weapons at a Nigerian military patrol in Borno, killing seven troopers and injuring others.
The assault occurred barely 5 days after the gunmen activated seven improvised explosive gadgets towards a Nigerian Military convoy of armoured personnel carriers and different automobiles, escorted by a foot patrol in Gorgi, Borno.
In keeping with navy sources, over 30 troopers have been killed in the course of the ambush.
A report by Sunday PUNCH on March 29, 2020, detailed how Boko Haram insurgents ambushed and killed over 70 Nigerian troopers of Operation Lafiya Dole.
The troopers have been killed in Gorigi close to Allargano Forest, a basic space of Borno State when the insurgents fired a rocket-propelled grenade on the truck conveying the troops from the rear, killing no fewer than 70 troopers within the ambush.
One of many sources instructed Sunday PUNCH, “The terrorists bought details about the operation from the villagers, in order that they laid staggered ambush for us and attacked our troops from the rear. When troopers transfer like that, the rear primarily helps parts of the advancing forces whereas the principle combating pressure is forward.
“That was why they determined to assault our convoy from behind, killing a lot of our colleagues. They fired rocket-propelled grenades on the truck conveying them and since they have been carrying bombs, the influence was a lot. We’re saddened by the assault however we received’t quit. Seeing a lot of our colleagues killed hurts quite a bit.”
Equally, in January 2019, the Nigerian Military buried 14 troopers who have been killed in an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists on December 24, 2018.
The Information Company of Nigeria reported that the 14 troopers who have been on escort responsibility have been ambushed on their method again to Kaduna by the terrorists on the Damaturu-Maiduguri Street.
Commenting on the dismal cycle of ambushed troopers, the Nationwide Secretary of the Worldwide Human Rights and Dignity Defenders Discussion board, Amb Ayo Akintayo, in an interview with our correspondent, identified that the navy wanted to be restructured.
He opined that if troopers have been deployed based mostly on sound navy intelligence and familiarity with the native terrains, it might minimise the speed of troopers being ambushed.
“When troopers are of a distinct ethnicity and geographical a part of the nation are despatched to a area whose terrain they’re unfamiliar with nor can they impart of their native languages, there can be a sure diploma of distrust and this might breed ill-will and jeopardise their security.
“The navy additionally must weed out the fifth columnists inside the military itself and be sure that it’s working based mostly on sound intelligence and surveillance. There is no such thing as a method that troopers could be ambushed in a neighborhood and killed so violently and not using a diploma of collusion and this must be investigated.
“The authorities ought to withdraw the military from inner safety affairs and permit police to deal with all minor inner safety challenges. The federal government ought to fish out the killers of troopers on peacekeeping missions and discover out who’s chargeable for it. Their dying is really devastating,” Akintayo said.
‘Households of late troopers want help’
In January, throughout an occasion to commemorate the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the Chief of Defence, Army Relations, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, instructed households of fallen troopers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, that the Armed Forces would always remember the sacrifices of the fallen heroes.
“We stand by you and are prepared to supply assist each time wanted. It’s a dedication that no household is left alone within the face of adversity. Relaxation assured that the Armed Forces will always remember the sacrifices of our fallen heroes,” he mentioned.
Nevertheless, a psychologist, Kolawola Afolabi, in an interview, defined that such guarantees should transcend phrases to supply actual help and social assist to grieving households of late navy personnel.
Explaining additional, Afolabi said that dying which ends from a battle might be much more troubling given the sudden and doubtlessly violent nature of the occasion.
“When households lose their family members, they expertise bereavement, which suggests ‘to be disadvantaged by dying’. They could expertise a variety of feelings which embrace denial, disbelief, confusion, shock, disappointment, anger, guilt, humiliation, craving, and despair. These emotions are frequent reactions to loss.
“Many individuals additionally report bodily signs of acute grief – abdomen ache, lack of urge for food, intestinal upsets, sleep disturbances, or lack of vitality. Mourning can worsen current sicknesses or result in the event of latest circumstances,” he mentioned.
“Grieving households could expertise profound emotional reactions like nervousness assaults, continual fatigue, despair, and ideas of suicide. So the very best factor is to permit these individuals to grieve.
“They have to be surrounded by caring folks. They want caring relations and associates who perceive what they’re going via and assist them work via the grieving course of. They might be part of a assist group with others who’ve skilled related losses and might communicate with their clerics,” he suggested.
Afolabi additionally urged households of slain troopers to deal with their well being by consuming correctly, exercising and getting loads of relaxation.
“Pay attention to the hazard of utilizing treatment or alcohol to cope with your grief or numb ache. It takes time and effort to soak up a serious loss, settle for your modified life, and start to reside once more within the current and never dwell on the previous.
“In case your emotions turn out to be an excessive amount of to bear, search skilled help to assist work via your grief,” he added.
