Tears as 17 Slain Soldiers Buried in Abuja

By Stephen Asaba-ase

The 17 ambushed and Slain officers of the Nigerian army at Okuama in Delta State on 14th March 2024 have been laid to rest.

Congress learnt that the remains of the officers arrived at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja at about 2:26 pm on Wednesday, where committed mothers and wives of the fallen heroes were made to observe the funeral rites.

Bola Tinubu, Service Chiefs and other personalities were present at the funeral service.

However, the troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuama Community were ambushed and Slain by some irate youths.

The unfortunate incident happened when the troops was responding to a distress call following a tractable communal crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State.

The officers that was killed are; one Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, one Captain and 13 soldiers.

The officers are Commanding Officer 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt. Col. A.H Ali; Maj S.D Shafa (N/13976); Maj D.E Obi (N/14395) and Capt U Zakari (N/16348).

The soldiers are SSgt Yahaya Saidu (#3NA/36/2974); Cpl Yahaya Danbaba (1ONA/65/7274); Cpl Kabiru Bashir (11NA/66/9853); LCpl Bulus Haruna (16NA/TS/5844); LCpl Sola Opeyemi (17NA/760719); and LCpl Bello Anas (17NA/76/290).

They also included LCpl Hamman Peter (NA/T82653); LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi (18NA/77/1191); Pte Alhaji Isah (17NA/76/6079); Pte Clement Francis (19NA/78/0911); Pte Abubakar Ali (19NA/78/2162); Pte Ibrahim Adamu (19NA/78/6079) and Pte Adamu Ibrahim (21NA/80/4795).