By Olayemi Esan 

Many of the Nigerian military awards and decorations are received for service, wartime participation, and personal achievement, but there is one medal that holds special significance: the Medals.

As a military personnel, receding this medal means, your country recognizes the enormous sacrifice that a service member can make while in the line of duty. Whether they sustain grievous injuries or die fighting the enemy, the medal always makes its way into the hands of the Officers  soldiers, veteran or their family. . 

Today, 1st April, 2022, the Theatre Commander Joint Task Force(JTF) North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Christopher Musa conferred medals of operations LAFIYA DOLE (OPLD) and TURA TAKAI BANGO on officers and soldiers in recognition of their gallantry in the theatre of operations.

The ceremonial event took place at Headquarters Theatre Command OPHK, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri

General Christopher Musa who was the reviewing officer at the medal parade, commenced the event with a visit to 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital (DMSH), where he conferred medals on officers and soldiers who suffered deprivations as a result of combat in the frontline. 

According to General Musa, “you all have chosen to sacrifice your freedom for humanity, your peace for war, your blood for your comrades, your nights and sleep so the rest of the world can sleep, your lives for your fatherland Nigeria. You that left your families and loved ones behind, your labour shall never be in vain".

He equally used the medium to appreciate troops for their unparralel sacrifices in the fight against insurgency, attributing the successes recorded thus far to their gallantry, adding it is not yet over. 

The Theatre Commander re-echoed the significance of the medal parade, stressing that it marks another milestone in troops achievements in the Theatre reiterating that, “the medal of honour you put on today is a symbol of your bravery and selfless sacrifice to humanity and your great nation Nigeria. He urged the troops to wear the medal always with pride and as a reminder of their outstanding achievement and acts of bravery.

He used the medium to also call on more public support in the ongoing operations, while calling on yet-to-surrender terrorist to take advantage of the opportunity to turn in themselves, stressing that the door is still open for them to surrender. 

Major highlight of the event was the decoration of the GOC 7 Division/Commander Sector 1 OPHK, Major General Waidi Shaibu with the operation’s medal, decoration of wounded in action officers and soldiers at 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital and group photograph.
Source: https://www.spyetv.com.ng/2022/04/nigerian-military-theatre-commander.html?m=1

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