By Dauda R Pam
Major Gen.Olusegun Adeniyi,Deputy Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole,has reiterated Nigerian army’s determination and commitment to end the dreaded Boko Haram insurgency and to restore peace in the north east region.
The deputy Theatre Commander,stated this at the burial of five fallen heroes, at the Nigerian Army Cemetery, held at the Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri where he hinted that,the military would not rest on its oars until total defeat of the insurgency and restoration of peace to the war torn zone is achieved..
He said, the fallen heroes we’re, “gallant, courageous and brave soldiers”, who sacrificed their lives in the defence of their fatherland.
Hear him “On behalf of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, I wish to commiserate with the families of the fallen heroes.
“What happened is sad, but I want their families to know that they did not die in vain; they died for Nigeria, they died for their fatherland.
“You can be proud; they were good citizens, brave, honourable good men. They did not beg or run away from the enemy, they fought gallantly to the end.
“Nigerian Army is proud of them and I want you to know that one of your loved ones paid the supreme price for nation-building. We thank God for their lives and we celebrate them.
“I promised you; we will not sleep, rest or give Boko Haram insurgents any respite, we will return normalcy to the North-East,” Adeniyi said.
According to him,the army has put in place an effective welfare scheme to take care of the families and children of the fallen heroes and advised the Next of Kin (NoK) of the deceased soldiers to contact him or Commanders of the Sector 2 and 29 Brigade, under which the slain soldiers served,if they experience difficulties or misunderstanding regarding their welfare and prayed for the repose of their souls and the families the fortitude to bear the monumental loss.
The fallen heroes included, Col. Kenneth Elemele, Lance Corporals, Ajijola Sunday, Oguntuase Ayo, Dimos Daniel, and Private Akinola Ayoola.
The fallen heroes were laid to rest in accordance with the Christian religious rites and military etiquette with each of the families presented with the National Flag at the end of the exercise.
In attendance at the funeral rites were,Maj.-Gen. Bulama Biu, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, and other military officers in the theatre of operation.
