Jah Man: Are Biafran soldiers included in the list of the celebrated veterans?

naptu2: As officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces prepare to deploy in Mali we remember those that have gone before them.

Officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces have fought in various wars and taken part in many peace keeping operations, defensive duties and internal security duties. These include

Wars including:

* The First World War
* The Second World War
* The Nigerian Civil War

Peace keeping/enforcement operations in

* The Congo
* Tanzania
* Liberia
* Sierra Leone
* Lebanon
* Darfur
* The former Yugoslavia

Defensive duties including

* The Bamileke Rebellion
* Chadian Rebels (1982/83)
* The Bakassi Peninsula

Internal Security duties including

* The Tiv Rebellion
* The Western Region Crisis
* The Niger-Delta Crisis (1966)
* The Agbekoya Rebellion
* The Niger Delta Crisis (1992-2009)
* The Boko Haram Insurgency.

Anti-Robbery operations, including:

* Operation Sweep
* Rapid Response Squad
* Operation Yaki
* Operation Messa

Etc.

ocelot2006: May God bless our heroes in uniform who paid the ultimate sacrifice in serving and protecting this great nation. And my the good Lord also protect our service men and women, especially those currently in the Malian battlefield, and those who will join them. Please bring them home safely to their loved ones when the mission's over.

[size=14pt]Remembrance Day: Jonathan, others honour fallen heroes.[/size]

Article | January 15, 2013 - 6:26pm | By Our Reporter



President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday in Abuja led leaders of the legislative and Judiciary arms of government, the military and para-military to perform the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day wreath laying ceremony.

The ceremony started at about 10 a.m. with the arrival of the President, who is the Grand Patron of the Nigerian Legion, at the National Arcade Three Arms Zone.

Jonathan took the salute shortly on arrival, after which he inspected a parade in four colours - the National and the three regimental colours of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

Prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of the fallen heroes and for peace, security and unity of the nation in both the Christians and Islamic way.

Shortly after the prayers, Jonathan laid a wreath at the Cenotaph; he was followed by Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.

Others who also laid wreaths were, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar; Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, and the FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed. The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim; the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika; the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh also took their turns in laying the wreath.

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar; the Acting Dean of the Diplomatic Corp and Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mrs Olumba Kombe as well as the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Col. Micah Gayya (rtd) also laid wreaths.

After the wreaths laying ceremony and 21 gun salute, the President released some pigeons to signify ``unfettered freedom, unity, peace and harmony for the country’’.

In attendance at the ceremony were the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, Ministers, Presidential aides and members of the Diplomatic Corps.

Also in attendance were some members of the armed forces, and their wives, members of the Nigerian Legion and some of the widows of the departed heroes.

NAN recalls that in Nigeria, the Armed Forces Day, also known as Remembrance Day, is celebrated on January 15.

It was formally marked on Nov. 11 of every year to coincide with the Remembrance Day (Poppy Day) for the World War II veterans in the British Commonwealth of Nations.

But it was changed to January 15 of every year in Nigeria in commemoration of the surrender of Biafran troops to the Federal troops on Jan. 15, 1970 thus signalling the end of the Nigerian Civil War.

The day is marked by with a Remembrance Day parade at the Cenotaph in Abuja and in the 36 state capitals.
The ceremony includes 21 gun salute, playing of the Last Post, a minute's silence, laying of wreaths and release of pigeons to symbolise peace.

[size=14pt]Boko Haram: Yobe Cancels Armed Forces Remembrance Day[/size]

The insecurity bedevilling Yobe State forced the ex-service men in the state and the state government to cancel the final activities lined up for the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in the state.

The annual event which was held across the country as a mark of respect for the fallen heroes with a special parade by serving and ex-servicemen as well as the 21 gun salute in honour of the departed heroes was not observed in Yobe state.

Journalists and other guests who had gathered at the usual playground for the annual event went home disappointed as no serving, ex-serving soldiers or government officials were present at the venue.

Members of the Boko Haram sect had relentlessly staged series of attacks in the north east state with the last being an attack on a patrol van of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the state on Monday in Ngelzarma town of Fune Local Government area of the state.

The chairman of the Nigerian legion in Yobe State; Zachary Garba told Channels Television in Damaturu that the usual parade and other activities for the grand finale could not hold because of the insecurity situation in the state.

He however revealed that the state chapter of the legion has planned big for the widows in the state as well as some welfare scheme for its members from the money realized at the emblem week launching.

The Yobe State Governor; Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam has earlier donated N5Million to the legions as well as houses and Hajj seats to the ex-servicemen during the launching of the emblem appeal fund held late last week.

Both serving and ex-servicemen are targets for the sect since the commencement of the Boko Haram insurgency that has affected the state in the recent times.

[size=14pt]Drama as Obasanjo declines to lay wreath[/size]

January 16, 2013 by Segun Olatunji and Sunday Aborisade ⁠31 Comments

A mild drama played out during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Abeokuta on Tuesday as a former President Olusegun Obasanjo declined Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s request to lay a wreath at the Arcade in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo vehemently resisted the governor’s persuasion to be part of the dignitaries to perform the ceremony.

This put a temporary stop to the programme as other dignitaries, including the Deputy Governor Segun Adesegun and the Iyalode of Egbaland, Chief Alaba Lawson, unsuccessfully begged him to do so.

Our correspondent learnt that the former Head of State refused the request to lay a wreath because he was not initially listed as one of those to perform the function on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Ondo State Government said on Tuesday that 241 widows of Nigerian soldiers, who died during war situations, had benefitted from its N20m interest free revolving loan instituted for them since last year.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko stated this at the military parade and laying of wreaths during the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration held at the Government Cenotaph, Alagbaka, Akure.

Mimiko, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, said the state government initiated the scheme in order to cushion the effects of the hardship occasioned by the sudden loss of their husbands.

He said, “As part of the state government’s caring heart programmes, we gave out cheques of various sums to the widows last year.”

Eko Ile: ^^^^^^^^ Another federal Neglect...

Maxymilliano:
Today we remember our fallen heroes... Nigeria remembers you.

You laid your life for a truly just cause... Nigeria remembers you.

We salute you for courage we adore that Nigeria may be one, strong united sovereign State...

Nigeria remembers you.

«« An old theme song for the armed forces remembrance day during the military regime, hope I got the lyrics correctly»».