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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
President Bola Tinubu has offered scholarships to the children of the 17 soldiers killed in Okuama community, in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta state.
The president also awarded posthumous national honours to the deceased soldiers.
Tinubu spoke on Wednesday during the burial ceremony of the late soldiers at the military cemetery, Gudu, Abuja.
The president conferred Members of the Order of Niger (MON) honour on four deceased officers while the other 13 soldiers were awarded Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) medals.
The president sympathised with the families of the deceased officers, noting that they died on a “mission of peace.”
“It is now our duty to protect the families of our departed heroes,” the president said.
Tinubu said the elders of the Okuama community must help the military to identify the gunmen who killed the 17 soldiers.
“I wish to also commend our Armed Forces for their restraint in choosing not to carry out any reprisal attacks in Okuoma or its neighbouring communities.
“We must all ensure that the innocent people of Okuoma are not made to bear the punishment of the guilty and wicked among them.
“To the entire Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I have a message for you. Do not let the death of your compatriots discourage you.
“There is no higher honour than the vocation you have chosen to pursue. We cherish you. We cherish your labour of love.
“We salute your daily sacrifice in protecting your fellow citizens from danger. We acknowledge your sacrifices to defend our nation.
“Within our continent, our sub-region and across the world, the Nigerian Military has remained a force for good, embodying a great example and keeping our democracy safe,” he said.
The president added that Federal Government will provide a house in any part of the country to each of the families of the four officers and 13 soldiers.
“The Federal Government has also approved scholarships to all the children of the deceased up to the university level.
“The military must, within the next ninety days, ensure that all the benefits of the departed are paid to their families,” Tinubu said.
On March 14, 17 personnel of the Nigerian Army were killed while on a peacekeeping mission to Okuama community in Delta State.
The federal and state governments promised that perpetrators would be arrested to face the wrath of the law.
The names of the deceased soldiers are A.H Ali, D.E Obi, S.D. Ashafa, U. Zakari, , Yahaya Saidu, Danbaba Yahaya, Kabir Bashir, Abdullahi Ibrahim, Bulus Haruna, Sole Opeyemi, Bello Anas, Alhaji Isah, Clement Francis, Abubakar Ali, Adamu Ibrahim, Hamman Peter, and Ibrahim Adamu.