BURIAL CEREMONY OF 3 SOLDIERS KILLED IN THE AMBUSH THAT LED TO THE DEATH OF COL DC BAKO

BURIAL CEREMONY OF 3 SOLDIERS KILLED IN THE AMBUSH THAT LED TO THE DEATH OF COL DC BAKO

The remains of the 3 soldiers killed in the ambush that led to the death of Colonel Dahiru Ciroma Bako were buried on Saturday 26 September 2020, at the Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery Maiduguri. The soldiers are Lance Corporals Desmond Nwobuji ,Adebiyi Oluwaseyi and Private Aliyu Ibrahim. The funeral ceremony had in attendance the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General TY Buratai, Chief of Training and Operations Army Headquarters Major General NE Angbazo, Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole Major General F Yahaya and his deputy, Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigerian Army Brigadier General AK Ibrahim, Principal Staff Officers from Army Headquarters and other senior military officers.

The internment was done after the normal military courtesies of gun salute and the blowing of the last post. In his comments, the COAS described the fallen soldiers as gallant and patriotic heroes and prayed for the repose of their souls and that of all officers and soldiers who have paid the supreme price in defending the country, Nigeria. He condoled the families of the departed heroes and outlined the Nigeria Army’s plan for the families of deceased heroes.He equally informed the audience of the Nigeria Army’s new scheme of building 2 and 3 bedroom houses for families of deceased officers and soldiers respectively who must have fallen in the line of duty. He also outlined the Nigerian Army’s existing policy of training 4 children of deceased personnel up to university level and notified the Next of Kin’s (NOK) of the deceased soldiers that this gesture would be done for these fallen heroes.

The COAS also used the opportunity to clarify some negative allegations that the burial of the late Brigade Commander was done differently from that of the late soldiers. He said Col Dahiru Bako’s burial was done earlier as his wife who happens to be his NOK rushed to Maiduguri upon hearing of her husband’s injury which eventually led to his painful death. He was buried accordingly since his wife who is his NOK was around as the presence of the NOK is a critical requirement for the burial of deceased fallen heroes in the Nigerian Army. The burial of the late soldiers on the other hand was this delayed as it took some time to locate, communicate and transport the NOK’s to Miaduguri to witness the burial as it is customary in the Nigerian Army. He used the opportunity to re iterate to all that the NA would be fair to all irrespective of rank or status.Thereafter, he presented the National Flag to each of the NOK’s of the deceased heroes. The Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division Brigadier General AK Ibrahim equally presented the sum of 2 million naira each which was a donation by the Government of Borno State to the 3 NOK’s. The event culminated with the group photograph with the COAS and the NOK’s before departing.