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Full text of President Tinubu’s speech at burial ceremony of 17 slain soldiers
Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and other Service Chiefs, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff and other military officers.
It is with heavy heart that I join you today to commit to earth, the remains of our officers and men who died in the course of duty on 14 March 2024 in Okuama Community, Delta State.
The officers and soldiers who lost their lives that day were patriots, brave and noble men who gave their lives to defend and protect our nation against internal and external threats. Their sacrifice will be remembered and honoured for generations to come and their.
On 14 March, Lt. Colonel A. H. Ali, the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, led three other officers and 13 soldiers to the Okuama Community to mediate in the lingering dispute with Okoloba Community.
They went as peace makers and peace keepers respectfully seeking to bring an end to the hostilities between the two communities.
They didn’t go with tanks, machine guns and other weapons.
They were on a mission of peace.
Before the dastardly attack, Lt. Colonel Ali, as the Chief of Army Staff briefed me, enjoyed great operational exploits; fighting terrorists and insurgents in the North East and North West before his deployment to the Niger Delta.
Ali kept faith with his military calling till the end.
On behalf of a grateful nation, we honour the sacrifice of Ali and the other gallant patriots who died that day. They will forever be remembered as heroes who answered the call of duty and paid the ultimate price.
Lieutenant Colonel Ali,
Major D.E Obi,
Major S.D. Ashafa,
Captain U. Zakari,
Staff Sergeant Yahaya Saidu,
Corporal Danbaba Yahaya,
Corporal Kabir Bashir,
Lance Corporal Abdullahi Ibrahim,
Lance Corporal Bulus Haruna,
Lance Corporal Sole Opeyemi,
Lance Corporal Bello Anas;
Private Alhaji Isah,
Private Clement Francis,
Private Abubakar Ali,
Private Adamu Ibrahim,
Private Hamman Peter, and
Private Ibrahim Adamu,
Each man now belongs to the hallowed list of servicemen and women who defended our country and protected their fellow Nigerians not minding the risk to their own lives.
They have all been awarded posthumous national honours. The four gallant Officers have been accorded the Award of Member of the Order of Niger (MON). The thirteen courageous soldiers who also lost their lives have been Awarded the Officer of the Federal Republic Medal.
I commiserate with the families of our fallen heroes and the entire Armed Forces. I share in the pain and grief you carry today. It is my prayer that God will comfort all who are bereaved as a result of this tragedy.
It is worth restating the debt of gratitude we owe these valiant soldiers and their families.
As Commander-In-Chief, I do not take the contributions of members of our Armed Forces for granted. I recognise your valour and bravery. I honour your unflinching commitment to making our country safe from criminals, bandits, kidnappers and insurrectionists.
While we continue to grieve for the courageous men we lost that day, let us also, on this solemn occasion, be reminded of the unfinished business of working for peace and harmony in our communities.
We must begin to rebuild our communities and make them into places where love, tolerance and harmony will reign. Leaders at all levels especially community leaders and traditional rulers must work to strengthen the bonds that unite us. We must endthe cycle of violence and bloodletting.
I want to make it clear, once more, that those who committed this heinous crime will not go unpunished. We will find them and our departed heroes will get justice.
The elders and chiefs of Okuoma also have a duty to help the military in fishing out the gunmen who committed the barbaric crime against our men.
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.
It is now our duty to protect the families of our departed heroes.
The Federal Government will provide a house in any part of our 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.
May the families of the departed and all their loved ones find the strength to bear the pain of this loss.
May God grant our heroes eternal rest.
May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and keep our troops safe, always.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Commander-in-Chief, Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
There is a gun battle between soldiers and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) at Banex Plaza, Abuja.
The clash occurred just hours after the United States Embassy in Nigeria issued a security alert, warning its citizens about planned IMN protests in Abuja and other major cities on Friday.
In the advisory, the US Embassy cautioned that demonstrations could lead to disruptions such as roadblocks, traffic congestion, and possible confrontations.
“The Islamic Movement of Nigeria has called for demonstrations in Abuja and other major cities on Friday, March 28, 2025. Heavy traffic and other disruptions are possible. Based on past occurrences, protests may involve roadblocks, checkpoints, traffic congestion, and physical confrontations,” the embassy stated.
The security warning listed potential protest locations, including Banex Plaza, Berger Junction, Unity Fountain, the National Human Rights Commission Head Office, Eagle Square, Area 10 Shopping Plaza, the National Mosque, Al-Noor Mosque, and Fouad Lababidi Mosque.
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The Edo State Government have reacted to the killing of suspected northern travellers said to have been kidnappers, says four persons have been arrested for alleged involvement in the killing of about seven persons suspected to be kidnappers in the Uromi area of the state.
The state government also ordered a full-scale investigation into the killing of the suspected kidnappers.
Okpebholo, who spoke through the Chief Security Officer, CSO, of the Government House, Solomon Osaghale, described the action as barbaric and condemnable.
He vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to justice and made to face the full wrath of the law.
While describing the incident as a barbaric and strange, he noted that such would not be tolerated in the State.
He said, “I was in Uromi at the instance of the Governor to ascertain the level of damage done and to ensure that prompt investigation is carried out to ensure justice and forestall a reoccurrence.
“The investigations have shown that the people who were killed had boarded a commercial truck and were stopped by members of local security who upon search of the vehicle, discovered some guns, a situation that led to the mob attack by persons around the vicinity.
“His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo on getting the news of this incident, directed me to immediately come here and find out what transpired as the news of what happened here is a sign of worry to our Governor whose desire is to create a prosperous State void of dastardly acts like this.
“I can assure you that the people involved in this unprovoked attack will not go scot-free, as His Excellency has directed the Commissioner of Police to launch a full-scale investigation into the matter.
“As I speak now, over four persons have been arrested for their involvement in this ugly incident.”
Okpebholo who condemned the act, stressed that nobody has the right to take another man’s life.
He said that the nature of the barbaric killing was a cause of concern to the state government.
The governor, who called for calm, assured the law-abiding residents of Uromi, especially the Hausa community, to go about their daily activities, as men of the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies have been deployed to restore peace and normalcy to the place.
Responding, the leader of the Hausa community in Uromi, Mallam Aliyu Haruna, thanked the governor for deploying the CSO and other security personnel to the area.
Haruna acknowledged that the presence of the security personnel has brought calm and reassurance to the Hausa community in the area, as there was palpable fear and unease in their camp following the unfortunate incident, which he noted has never happened before in the local government.
“We want to sincerely thank the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo, for his swift response to the occurrence of this ugly incident.
“I must tell you that this is the first time a thing like this has happened in Uromi, and it baffles me because the Uromi people have been so accommodating to us in the Hausa community.
“Over the years, we have lived peacefully among the indigenes. Our sojourn in this land has spanned over seventy years. I was given birth here, and so are many other people you are seeing here today,” he said.
Sixteen travelers from Northern Nigeria were brutally killed and set ablaze by a mob in Udune Efandion, Uromi, Edo State, after being falsely accused of kidnapping.
The attack, which occurred on Thursday, highlights the dangers of mob justice and the deadly consequences of misinformation.
According to intelligence sources cited by Zagazola Makama, the victims—mostly Hausa hunters—were traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Sallah celebrations when they were stopped around 1:30 p.m. by members of the Edo State Security Corps and local vigilantes.
The sight of their hunting rifles, commonly used in Northern Nigeria, reportedly triggered suspicion, leading to false allegations of criminal activity.
Rather than involving the police or security agencies, vigilantes raised an alarm, sparking chaos. Local youths, incited by the false claims, launched a deadly attack on the travelers, killing 16 on the spot. In a horrifying escalation, the mob set the victims’ truck on fire, burning some bodies beyond recognition, while others were thrown into the flames.
Security forces arrived too late to prevent the killings but managed to rescue four survivors, who were rushed to His Grace Hospital in Uromi for medical attention.
Meanwhile, authorities have since confirmed the arrest of five suspects as investigations into the incident continue.
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