Army Pays N1m Each To Families Of Boko Haram Slain Soldiers

There was outpouring of emotion on Monday in Lagos as wives, children and family members of 12 Nigerian  army personnel, who lost their lives to Boko Haram insurgency received financial aid.

Major-General Obi Umahi, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Div. Headquarters, Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island, Lagos, presented a cheque of one million naira to the relatives of each of the slain officers, who were drawn from 174 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos State, on behalf of the governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima.

According to Umahi, the men died in active service in an operation in the north eastern part of the country.

The GOC said, “apart from some of the resources made available, courtesy of Borno State governor as part of  measures to cushion the effects on the wives, children and family members, the Nigerian Army has undertaken to do a number of things like the burial and payment of benefits which have been processed.”

The army boss also said that the “welfare policies of the deceased officers’ children below 18 years old were intact and that the Nigerian Army will sponsor them in their respective academic pursuits.

“The business of soldiering is a risky business. It is a commitment to lay down our lives so that the rest of Nigerians can live in peace and the country can progress.

It is the sacrifice they (soldiers) have made. The money being presented today is not enough, but it is a kind gesture from the Borno State government where the soldiers died. We will continue to support and care for you” he said.

He, however, admonished the children, wives and family members, who collected the cheques to apply the funds judiciously.

Specifically, he said the funds were meant for the wives and children of the slain soldiers, adding that burial expenses had been borne by the Nigerian Army.

The slain soldiers were  Capt. Al Ushoga, Sergeant Sadiq Ominisi, Cpl Olafimihan Akeem, Cpl Sabo Mijinyawa, Cpl Moses Sylvester, LCpl Umar Isa, LCpl Michael Ike and LCpl Nwanbuwanne Monday.

Others were LCpl Kabiru Mairiga, LCpl Musa Job, Private Ephraim Ebimine and Private Ndah Mohammed.