Image Credit: Channels TV
The Nigerian Armed Forces are currently burying the 22 officers that were ambushed and killed by Islamic terrorists in Niger State.
The burial ceremony being held at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja is witnessed by the rank and file of the Nigerian Armed Forces who were joined by family members and friends.
Channels TV described the mood at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja where the fallen military personnel are being laid to rest as solemn.
All is set for the burial of military personnel who died during the combat and air crash incident in Niger State, which happened on August 14, 2023.#CTVTweets pic.twitter.com/hZc0MrQhTi
— Channels Television (@channelstv) August 25, 2023
SaharaReporters reported on Monday, August 14, that no fewer than 23 personnel of the Nigerian army had been killed following an ambush on a military convoy by gunmen suspected to be terrorists in Niger.
On August 17, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) revealed that no fewer than three officers and 22 soldiers were killed during the ambush on troops by terrorists in Niger State.
The Director, Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, while given breakdown of the incident told journalists that seven soldiers were also wounded during the ambush.
According to him, the deadly ambush led to the deployment of the military aircraft that crashed in the state, in which there were “14 previously killed soldiers, seven wounded soldiers, two pilots, and two crew members”.
He said, “Our troops entered into an ambush in the general of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger state. The ambush led to a firefight which resulted in the death of three officers, and 22 soldiers while seven were wounded in action. As a result of this, there was a need for us to embark on a casualty operation whereby the Air Force helicopter was dispatched.
“While that process was on and inbound to Kaduna the helicopter crashed. In the crash were 14 of the previously killed in action personnel in that ambush, seven of the previously wounded in action personnel, two pilots of the helicopter and two crew members.”
List of deceased military personnel being buried include "Late MAJ SA Oni, FLT LT Anthony Duryumsu, FLT LT Ibrahim Adamu, LT GM Odusami, LT US Alkali, SGT Faruk Mohammed, CPL Ibrahim Garba, CPL Chiroma Pogu, CPL Adama Isaac, CPL Haruna Jamilu, and CPL Samaila Bashiru
Other are "AB Suleiman MK (NN), CPL Jauro Amos (NAF), LCPL Sunday Okopi, LCPL Ekpanyo Edetd, LCPL Alaribe Daniel (NAF), LCPL Brigss Stephen (NAF), LCPL Yakubu Ayuba, LCPL Nura Mohammed, PTE Habib Aliyu, PTE Tanko Waje and ACM Abubakar Abdulrahaman (NAF)."
The funeral according reports began with the arrival of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, around 9:46 am. Also in attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Gwabin Musa, and other service chiefs.