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Armed Forces Remembrance Day

Today, January 15 marks the important annual event in Nigeria called Armed Forces Remembrance Day to commemorate the fallen heroes that lost their lives in…

Today, January 15 marks the important annual event in Nigeria called Armed Forces Remembrance Day to commemorate the fallen heroes that lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars as well as the Civil War of 1967-70 and other military engagements including the on-going Boko Haram War. 

Even though January 15 was the date of the military’s first misadventure into national politics, it is now better known as the day that celebrates the role of the armed forces in upholding the unity of the country. It is celebrated not only at the federal level but across the states and local government areas. Other activities lined up are the Friday Juma’at prayer and Sunday church service to pray for the repose of the souls of soldiers who died to protect the country. 

This year’s is not different as prayers were held in mosques and churches last Friday and yesterday, Sunday.  Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the National Mosque, Abuja for the Armed Forces Remembrance Juma’at prayers. He said after wards, “In the north- east, I can say they have made great successes. As I am talking to you there is an operation going on between Nigeria and Cameroon, so we are looking at other armed forces of other countries to come and unite with us and forge ahead.” He also assured that the Armed Forces stand ready to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity, despite all the internal security challenges.

Minister of Interior Abdurrahman Dambazau, a former Army Chief, also said, “On January 15 every year, we mark and appreciate the sacrifices of security forces, some of them who paid the ultimate sacrifice.” Nigerian Armed Forces in recent years have been battling many ‘wars’ as it is. They have been engaged with Boko Haram insurgents in the north-east for years now, leading to much loss of lives of the soldiers amidst controversies of lack of food, allowances and equipment to motivate them. Nevertheless in spite of every obstacle they trudged on, fighting the internal enemy. They are also engaged in the Niger Delta, Southern Kaduna, Zamfara and Benue states to deal with militancy, banditry and herders/farmers clash.

We therefore commend them as without them the other security agencies would have been overwhelmed due to the many and frequent crises.  However the celebration has since gone beyond gathering of the Army, Navy and Air force and the Nigerian Legion. It also goes beyond the lying of wreaths, to disperse until next year to perform another ritual.

Their welfare should be paramount to the government; they cannot be paid enough for sacrificing their lives to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria and for stabilising the country against internal aggression. However, to do the job effectively, soldiers must be provided with the right weapons and equipment and they must be motivated with good welfare provisions. After all if they become hungry and haggard, they would be overrun by criminals which would cost the country more than the money it would have spent in the first place.

At the same time there is the need to squarely address the welfare of the families of dead servicemen. It is not enough to be laying wreaths, lowering flags and marching past when the families that soldiers left behind are wallowing in poverty and neglect.

We often hear complaints that dead soldiers’ entitlements are not paid on time. Some families are thrown out of the barracks after their husband died, without giving them adequate time to find a place and leave. Perhaps if their benefits were paid promptly they wouldn’t have stayed at the barracks to be disgraced and humiliated. This is not good treatment for those that sacrificed their lives for the country, nor will it motivate those that are still serving. We congratulate the Nigerian Armed Forces on this Remembrance Day and hope that it will herald improvements in soldiers’ welfare.

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