The remains of the 17 military personnel comprising four officers, 13 soldiers, gruesomely murdered by some irate youths in Okuama community in Delta State during a peace mission on March 14, 2024, have been buried.
They were buried at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, on Wednesday, March 27th.
Their graves were dug side by side, following each other horizontally, and their coffins were covered with the colours of the Nigerian flag.
The bodies, which arrived at about 2:30pm, were conveyed by the FCT Ambulance Emergency Services and other vehicles.
Top military officers from various services paid their last respect to the fallen heroes.
Family members and relatives of the deceased personnel as well as those of other military officers were also on ground to honour the fallen heroes.
As tears flow, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was present at the event, consoled the victims’ families and loved ones in a statement.
Here is the profile of the highest ranking officer among the slain Army personnel as contained in the programme of event:
Late Lieutenant Colonel Abdullahi Hassan Ali* (N/12079) was born on May 18, 1975 in Kano and hailed from Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State.
He had his primary education at Kuka Special Primary School, Fagge, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. Thereafter, he proceeded to Government Senior Grammar School, Gwarzo, where he obtained his West African Secondary School Certificate.
He then attended the College of Arts and Remedial Studies, Kano, before proceeding to Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science.
The late senior officer enlisted into the Nigerian Army on 2 October 1996 and was later granted Short Service Combatant Commission on 17 December 2005 as a member of Short Service Course 34 in the rank of second lieutenant. He converted to Regular Combatant Commission effective 24 November 2010.
He was of the Infantry Corps and rose to the rank lieutenant colonel on 17 November 2020 before his demise on 14 March 2024. CONTINUE READING