President Bola Tinubu has awarded the 17 officers and soldiers killed in Okuama on 14 March posthumous national honors.
The 17 military personnel included Lt.-Col. Ali, Maj. D.E Obi, Maj. S.D. Ashafa, and Capt. U. Zakari.
The others are Staff Sgt. Yahaya Saidu, Corporal Danbaba Yahaya, Corporal Kabir Bashir, Lance Corporal Abdullahi Ibrahim, Lance Corporal Bulus Haruna, Lance Corporal Sole Opeyemi, and Lance Corporal Bello Anas, Private Alhaji Isah, Private Clement Francis, Private Abubakar Ali, Private Adamu Ibrahim, Private Hamman Peter, and Private Ibrahim Adamu.
Each of the four officers was awarded a Member of the Order of Niger (MON), while the 13 soldiers were awarded Federal Republic Medals.
The president also said that the government would provide a house in any part of the country to each of the families of the officers and soldiers.
Their children will get federal government scholarships up to the university level, according to the president.
At their burial on Wednesday, President Tinubu described the 17 officers and soldiers as patriotic, brave, and gallant Nigerians.
He said that the deceased gave their lives to defend and protect the nation against internal and external threats.
“They went as peacemakers and peacekeepers, seeking to bring an end to the hostilities between the two communities,” he said.
“They didn’t go with tanks, machine guns, and other weapons. They were on a mission of peace.
“The officers and soldiers who lost their lives that day were patriots, brave and noble men who gave their lives to defend and protect our nation against internal and external threats.”
President Tinubu believes their deaths serve as a rallying point for Nigerians to condemn crime and criminality.
