Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state has called on all and sundry never to take for granted the sacrifices of the fallen soldiers in Nigeria, stressing that the heroes gave their lives in exchange for those of the citizens.
The Governor made the remark shortly after laying the wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier in commemoration of the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
The event took place Wednesday at the Unity Square, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
Nwifuru appreciated the dedication and diligence of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies in the country, describing them as selfless and patriotic.
Nwifuru said: “Today is a very unique day in the history of our nation Nigeria as we pay tribute to our fallen heroes, people who have suffered for the benefit of mankind and paid supreme price in safeguarding lives and property of citizens of this great nation.
“Their idea when they wanted to join the service was to save lives and property but they never wished to stake their lives.
“That is a great sacrifice.”
Widows of fallen heroes, members of the Nigerian Legion and others who spoke to newsmen during the event called on the federal government of Nigeria to take the celebration beyond the yearly rituals to paying adequate attention to the families of the fallen heroes.
Retired Captain Fidelis Ogodo, Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Ebonyi State wing, urged the government to give their children and members who were still strong jobs to sustain them.
He said: “We have many of our sons and daughters who are graduates.
“The government can employ them.
“Even some of the retirees who are graduates up to PhD levels who are still strong can also be employed in some areas.
“They can empower our wives; they can also empower us to go into agriculture to keep ourselves productively active so that we won’t die of inactivity.”
A widow of a fallen soldier, Amuche Bethel Ekuma-Awoh who could not hold back her tears appreciated the government and all concerned for creating an avenue to remember their fallen spouses.
She noted that the event was an indication that their sacrifices were not in vain. She however, described as unfortunate the development whereby the people protected by the soldiers sometimes turn around to hunt their protectors.
She narrated her sordid story as a soldier’s widow, stressing that it has been a difficult task surviving with her children, adding that she had to drop out of the university following the death of her husband in active service.
Ekuma-Awoh narrated: “Some of us, widows that lost our husbands are today struggling to survive.
“We are being neglected, and we seem to have been forgotten after the burial of our husbands.
“Most of us can’t even send our children to school.
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“I am a mother of two children, five and three years respectively, and I find it extremely difficult catering for them.
“Some of our children have dropped out of school because our husband who was our sponsor is no more.
“I was in the university when my husband died and I had to quit school.
“The government should please intervene by at least, employing us.
“We need to work to be able to put food on the table for our families.”
Corroborating the appeal of the widow for employment, the Welfare and Entertainment Officer for the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association in Abakaliki, Comforter Onyukwu, appreciated Governor Francis Nwifuru for the attention he has so far given to widows in the state and urged him to extend further gestures to widows of the fallen heroes.
The Commanding Officer, 24 Command Engineering Regiment, Nkwoagu Military Cantonment, Abakaliki, Lt. Colonel Audu Bako, said the event was a time to remember both the living and their dead colleagues, get in touch and offer support to families of their departed colleagues in line with comradeship.
He urged those still in service to always remain professional and discharge their duties to the best of their abilities.
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