22 slain military men honoured with national burial

Twenty-two military personnel, including a Major, two NAF helicopter pilots, and 19 soldiers, airmen, and ratings, received a ceremonial national burial on Friday at the Military Cemetery in Abuja.

The soldiers were killed when bandits ambushed them towards Zungeru while on a mission to counter the attacks by bandits and terrorists on communities in the area. A NAF helicopter evacuating wounded soldiers crashed in Wushishi, Niger State, resulting in the demise of the wounded soldiers.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, who spoke at the burial, declared the Nigerian armed forces’ commitment to seeking revenge for the deaths.

Musa assured that those responsible for this reprehensible act would not escape justice, emphasizing that they would be pursued relentlessly through all available means.

The CDS said, “Those that did this and those that have continued to attack, kill our men, wherever they are; we will get them out, we will smoke them out, and we will ensure that they never have any other opportunity to kill any other person, that I assure you.

“We will hunt you down; we will bring you to justice.” We will not relent until we get those causing havoc in the country.

“This is one of those most difficult days because when you have to bury your own, you feel highly pained. I promise you (families of the deceased). We will not relent until we get rid of all those causing havoc in every part of our country. Our resolve will not wither. We will hunt you (perpetrators) down. We will bring you to justice.”

The event was attended by dignitaries such as the Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Deputy Governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba; as well as other service chiefs.