By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
The
newly posted head of counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast (Theatre
Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole), Maj. Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi has assured that
the military will not rest until Boko Haram is defeated.
Adeniyi also reassured families of fallen officers and soldiers that the Army
will continue to accord priority to their welfare and settle all their
entitlements.
The Army General gave the assurances during the burial ceremony of Col. Kenneth
Elemele and four others who were killed in an encounter with Boko Haram in
Borno State recently.
Other soldiers laid to rest include Lance Corporal Ajijola Sunday, Lance
Corporal Oguntuase Ayo, Lance Corporal Dimos Daniel and Private Akinola Ayoola.
At a funeral rights presided by Major Chinwe Njokwu and Major Ayuba Usman,
Adeniyi said the fallen officer and four soldiers fought gallantly while
protecting their fatherland.
He assured that the Nigerian Army will not relent in the war against insurgency
until normalcy is restored in the north east.
Adeniyi, while extending his sympathy to the next of kin and loved ones,
promised to provide the needed support to families of fallen heroes.
He said: “On behalf of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai,
I wish to commiserate with the families of the fallen heroes.
“What happened is sad, but I want their families to know that they did not die
in vain; they die for Nigeria, they die for their fatherland.
“You can be proud; they were good citizens, brave, honourable good men. They
did not beg or run away from the enemy, they fought gallantly to the end.
“Nigerian Army is proud of them and I want you to know that one of your loved
ones paid the supreme price for nation-building. We thank God for their lives
and we celebrate them.
“I promised you; we will not sleep, rest or give Boko Haram insurgents any
respite, we will return normalcy to the North-East.”
He disclosed that the Army had put in place an effective welfare scheme to take
care of the families and children of the fallen heroes.
He however advised the next of kin of the deceased soldiers to contact him or
Commanders of the Sector 2 and 29 Brigade, under which the slain soldiers
served if they experience difficulties or misunderstanding regarding their
welfare.
After the fallen heroes were laid to rest in accordance with their religious
rites and military etiquette, each of the families of the fallen heroes was
presented with the National Flag at the end of the exercise.
The traditional twenty one gun salute was also observed in honour of the
gallant officers.
The event was also attended by Maj.-Gen. Bulama Biu, the General Officer
Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, and other military officers in the theatre of
operation.