- The chief of army staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, says some soldiers died barely a year after committing themselves to serve the country
- He states that the deceased shed their blood to protect the nation from armed bandits and queried those questioning the loyalty of the military to the nation
- The army chief says the late soldiers were trained for six months and drafted for another training to add value to them
The chief of army staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, has vowed that those who killed 11 soldiers on March 20, in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna state, must account for their crime.
Buratai made the statement on Thursday, March 29, when the soldiers were being buried at the Commonwealth Cemetery in Kaduna, The News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The army chief lamented that the young soldiers died barely a year after committing themselves to serve the country.
READ ALSO: Oshiomhole reportedly preparing to take over APC chairmanship from Oyegun
He said: "As we speak, most of them have not gone back to their relations to say this is the uniform I joined."
“That is the sadness of this occasion, now they have paid the supreme sacrifice in the defence of the territorial integrity of this country.”
Buratai stated that the deceased shed their blood to protect the nation from armed bandits and queried those questioning the loyalty of the military to the nation.
“How then can we tell them that they are aiding those who killed them, that today they have paid with their lives to aid those who killed them?
“If we are responsible enough to make a statement, we should not generalise,” Buratai said in a message through the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division, Maj.-Gen. Muhammad Muhammad.
He said the late soldiers were trained for six months and drafted for another training to add value to them, but lost their lives in the course of duty.
“Their blood will not shed in vain; we, their colleagues who are still alive will continue where they stopped; their memory will still be with us.”
PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app
He assured all Nigerians that the military will not relent until the peace of the country is guaranteed.
“We find ourselves as first respondents, we will not shy away from it, we will continue to do our duties diligently regardless of any shortcoming.”
He commiserated with the families of the deceased and assured them of the commitment of the army to keep the country one.
Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai announced a donation of N500, 000 to each family of the 11 slain soldiers.
The governor, represented by the secretary to the state government, Alhaji Lawal Balarabe, presented cheque of N5.5 million to the GOC for onward transmission to the late soldiers’ families.
NAIJ.com had earlier reported that 11 soldiers killed on March 20, 2018, along Birnin Gwari - Funtua road while on operation Ayem Akpatuma, which was established to disarm armed militia and suspected killer herdsmen, have been laid to rest amid tears.
The security organisation also released the names of the deceases and the photographs of the colourful burial ceremony in a short message honouring the late soldiers.
Should Nigerians pick up arms to defend themselves against herdsmen?(Street Interview) | Naij.com TV
Source: Naija.ng