Defence
FOLLOWING the killing of scores of military operatives on counter terrorism combat operation in Zungeru- Kagara, Niger State, a call has gone to the president, Commander-in-chief to authorise the setting up of Education Trust Fund of not less than N10 billion for the purposes of funding the education of children left behind by military operatives killed in action.
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria,
HURIWA, said a specially constituted three-member board of trustees drawn from credible list of statesmen/women including one serving Supreme Court Justice, a director in the ministry of Defence and a serving military general should be set up by legislation from the National Assembly to administer the Special scholarship scheme for children of departed heroes in the military.
HURIWA, which stated this in a statement on Monday, August 28, said the nation has yet to set up a structured system of enduring compensations for families of departed operatives of the military killed on the line duty especially during wars or counter-terror/insurgency missions.
HURIWA emphasized that as the biggest black democracy in the World, Nigeria must work out a credible but structured platform for rewarding the heroic contributions of military combatants killed in the line of fire while defending the country’s national security. HURIWA sees this as the surest way to motivate those who still to give out their best and be ready to make supreme sacrifices for the national security of Nigeria.
The rights group said the current practice of simply organising media publicised shows by way of burial ceremonies whereby families are condoled verbally, few cash donated to each beteaved family but then left to substantially sort themselves out in the absence of their bread winners, is grossly unfair. HURIWA said the nation must ensure that Children whom the nation deprived of their Parents although inadvertently but definitely in the line of combat, are not abandoned to a cruel fate particularly since by most cultural practices, widows are not adequately protected in the area of inheritance rights and privileges.
HURIWA recalled that when the chief of Air Staff went to commiserate with the families of the deceased crew members of crashed MI-171E in Port Harcourt last week, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar while condoling the families for the painful loss, Air Marshal Abubakar stated that the loss was a major setback for the NAF, which would take the service some time to get over. Tje service chief went on to assure the families that the NAF would, however, never abandon the families but would always stand by them till the end as the Air chief also assured them that their sacrifices would not be in vain as the NAF family, as well as all Nigerians, would forever remember them for giving their lives for the survival of the nation.
HURIWA citing a press release by Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, stated that the Chief of Air Staff “expressed his condolence to the Unit and appreciated them for their commitment and efforts in the ongoing joint military operations in the Niger Delta.”
HURIWA however said mere verbal condolences for these bereaved families aren’t enough because as a fact, those military combatants killed were the sole breadwinners of their immediate families comprising of very young, vulnerable children and widows who should be adequately cared for by the Nation for whom their fathers and husbands made supreme sacrifices. Establishing at least N10 billion Education Endowment Fund to benefit these children left by their fathers will be somehow a befitting way of rewarding their departed fathers and our heroes for their heroism.
HURIWA recalled that the evacuation of troops who were ambushed on August 13, 2023 in Zungeru-Kagara area of Niger State was done and some of the deceased persons include Major Segun Abiodun Oni of the Nigerian Army (NA) Infantry Corps who rose to the rank of Major on July 8, 2020. He was Platoon Commander, 72 Special Forces Battalion, Company Second in Command, Armed Forces Special Forces Battalion, and Second in Command, Defense Headquarters Special Operations Forces Battalion.
Also deceased, according to media publications, was Flight Lieutenant Gbenga Michael Odunsami of the 65 Regular Course. Still of the Infantry Corps he was deployed to Defence Headquarters Special Operations Forces Brigade while Lieutenant Usman Shehu Alkalo was of the 45th Battalion were he was Platoon Commander.
Sergeant Farouk Mohammed on the other hand was of the 51 Regular Intake. Of the Infantry Corps, he was deployed to the 26th Battalion in Sokoto while Corporal Ibrahim Garba was a member of the 53 Regular Intake and Corporal Chiroma Pugoyamta was also as a member of the 64 Regular Intake and was of the Infantry Corps hence his posting to 192 Battalion in Owode.
Also of the Infantry Corps, Corporal Adamu Isaac was a member of the 66 Regular Intake and was posted to the 18 Battalion in Sokoto. Corporal Haruna Jamilu on the other was of the 66 Regular Intake and his last unit was 242 Recce Battalion in Monguno. Corporal Samaila Bashiru was as a member of the 68 Regular Intake and his last unit was the 4th Demo Battalion in Jaji.
Lance Corporal Sunday Okopi joined the NA as a member of the 68 Regular Intake. His last unit in the NA was the 4th Demo Battalion in Jaji before this special operations. Lance Corporal Ekpenyong Edet was a member of the 70 Regular Intake and his last unit the 4th Demo Battalion in Jaji.
Lance Corporal Yakubu Ayuba was enlisted into the NA as a member of the 75 Regular Intake and his last unit was the 54th Signal Brigade in Enugu while
Lance Corporal Nura Mohammed was enlisted into the NA as a member of the 75 Regular Intake and his last unit was the 6th Division Garrison in Port Harcourt.
Private Habib Aliyu was a member of the 79 Regular Intake and was at the 2nd Battalion while Private Tanko Waje was a member of the 79 Regular Intake and was also with the 2nd Battalion.
For the Nigerian Navy, Lt Able Regulator Suleiman Mahmood Kailani joined the NN on July 9, 2012. He was at Nigerian Navy Ship WEY from where he was drafted to the Defence Special Force and subsequently deployed for Operation Whale Punch in Bida, Niger State, where he met his untimely death.
For the NAF, Flight Lieutenant Ibrahim Abubakar Adamu and Flight Lieutenant Alfred Anthony Seth Duryumsu, were both members of the 64 Regular Course on and were commissioned as pilot officers on September 16, 2017 and promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenants on September 22, 2022, according to information gathered from the media.
A.
-Aug. 28, 2023 @ 15:48 GMT |
Tags: Air Marshal Abubakar Corporal Adamu Isaac HURIWA Lance Corporal Ekpenyong Edet Lance Corporal Yakubu Ayuba Nigerian Navy Ship Private Habib Aliyu. Sergeant Farouk Mohammed Suleiman Mahmood Kailani Tanko Waje
