Nigerians celebrate forgotten heroes who fell fighting terrorists

As Nigeria marked the Armed Forces Remembrance Day on Monday, President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akbapio, and governors across the 36 states of the federation laid wreaths for the fallen heroes who died while protecting the country.

The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is observed annually on January 15 to honour the country’s military heroes, both living and dead, who have served in World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War, and various peacekeeping missions.

For the first time since assuming office, the President presided over the historic event at the National Arcade in Abuja, inspecting a guard of honour mounted by detachments of the Nigerian Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Nigerian Legion.

Afterwards, three volleys of 21-gun salute were fired at the event, followed by the signing of the Remembrance Day Anniversary register by the President, who released white pigeons to indicate the nation’s harmony.

Also laying wreaths were the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and his Minister of State, Bello Mattawale.

Others are the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, a member of the diplomatic corps, the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion and a representative of the widows of the fallen heroes.

Aside from the President and other notable personalities, netizens have also taken to X to shower praises on soldiers while appreciating their gallantry.

Showering appraisal on a fallen hero, Wing Commander Chimda Hedima, who reportedly air-rammed a jet into the bandits’ den when it was about to crash, an X user, Left Lieutenant, said, “You had the option of pushing the Alpha jet to base after getting hit by enemy’s anti-aircraft guns but you refused to take the option. Instead, you nosed down, air-rammed into the enemy, like the Kamikaze, to kill 63 of them and deploy your chutes in hostile territory.

“It is said that when men die in service, little is said of the alternate story that would have happened if these men never crossed the line. So, on 12/9/2014, when we watched how you were murdered, we knew the alternate story would have been chaos for those communities.

“Not just for that day but for every day you gave yourself, like on that hot day in Baga when insurgents pinned our troops with an MBT, and you stepped in to give them havoc; we salute you. The relics still lie in the hinterland.

“God bless you, Wing Commander Hedima. Dahiru Bako. 10 years in war. War machine. Promoted in death.”

When Hedima died, a group identified as the Army Support Group also appreciated his gallantry.

In a post on Facebook, the support group described the pilot as “a true Nigerian hero”, noting, “It is with deep regret that we announce the death of a true Nigerian hero, Wing Commander Chimda Hedima (1975-2014).”

Continuing, the group said, “This is his story. Read it, share it. This man was a hero, of the highest order.

“On 11/09/14, a company of NA soldiers attempted to overrun a BH position in Borno. Due to the low altitude, the plane suffered significant damage from the terrorists’ gunfire. Wing Commander Hedima and his partner realised that they were going to crash.

“They, instead of hurriedly parachuting to safety within Nigerian-controlled territory, chose to embark on a mission to destroy as many terrorists and their weapons as possible.

“They parachuted out at the last minute but not before ensuring their plane slammed into a column of terrorists; 63 Boko Haram members were killed as a result of their bravery.

“Wing Commander Hedima was captured. On 12/09/14, he was killed.

“He chose Nigeria; he chose all of us. We cannot forget him. Please share his story. His name should be known by everyone.

“Rest in peace Commander, we are grateful. May you find eternal peace; Thank you for your service.”

Aside from that, a few soldiers who have died fighting for Nigeria’s course include Lt Col Ibrahim Sakaba, Flight Lieutenant Jacob, Flight Lieutenant Kilyofas, Sergeant Auwal Ibro, Lance Corporal Nura, and ACM Meshack Ishmael.

On November 20, 2018, in a catastrophic and prolonged invasion of their base in northern Borno State on November 18., Sakaba fought the bandits tooth and nail alongside 117 of his fellow soldiers and died.

Although colleagues hailed the bravery of all the soldiers who lost their lives in the attack, but they hailed Sakaba in particular for his leadership at the Nigerian Army 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele, where Boko Haram terrorists launched a surprise attack against them at about 6pm that Sunday.