Nineteen of the 23 soldiers who were killed in the last month’s attack at Metele by insurgents were laid to rest in Maiduguri yesterday.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Tukur Buratai was represented by Maj. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun at burial ceremony conducted at the Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri.
Adeosun who could not control his emotions at the funeral assured families of the fallen heroes that the army would not forget their sacrifices.
“Today, we buried 19 of them, we are still expecting the family and next of kin of the remaining 4. Indeed, our country has lost some of its finest officers and soldiers to this unprecedented terror being visited on the entire Northeast. Their sacrifices will not be in vain, more than ever than before, we their colleagues, are determined to deal decisively with perpetrators of this heinous crime.
“I would like on behalf officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, indeed the armed forces, to further condole the families of the gallant officers and soldiers, and assure you that we will continue to do the best for you in line with our welfare packages,” he said.
He promised that President Muhammadu Buhari is making concerted efforts to further improve the welfare of service personnel and their families as well as getting more equipment to enhance their capacity to deaql with Boko Haram and other criminals.
The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Benson Akinroluyo, said the theatre had lost valuable equipment and more painfully, officers and soldiers who had to lay down their lives in defence of the nation.
