Commanding Officer, Others Who Recaptured Marte From Boko Haram Laid To Rest

Nigerian Army has buried a commanding officer and four other soldiers who died in the attack on the military base in Marte Local Government of Borno State.

On February 14, Commanding Officer Beden Ishaya (late) a major from the 22 battalion led a reinforcement to Marte to support dislodged troops.

Boko Haram had hoisted their flags in Marte for about a week before the Chief of Army staff gave a 48-hour ultimatum to troops (at the 81 DIV Task Force battalion which is also the headquarters of Super Camp 9 Dikwa), this led to Marte’s recapture.

The army later retrieved the bodies of Major Ishaya, a sergeant, two lance corporals and a private soldier from the battlefield. The late soldiers were laid to rest on Saturday at the Maimalari Cantonment Military Cemetery.

Deputy Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole Major General Felix Omoigui, General officer commanding 7 Division and other senior officers attended the internment of the fallen heroes.

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Omoigui commiserates with the families of the fallen heroes buried in a small ceremony with full military honours.

“Today is indeed a sad day for all of us, our officers and soldiers who fought gallantly before their death were exemplary; unfortunately, they had to pay the supreme price,” he said.

He assured the families of the dead that the death of the slain soldiers will not be in vain, saying that the army is committed to winning the fight against insurgency.

“We want to assure you that we will do all our best to ensure this insurgency is brought to an end soonest. We have lost a lot with their departure from us: the Nigerian nation as a whole has lost; the theatre and of course the family has lost,” the Deputy theatre commander said.

“I want to encourage you to be strong. God knows why he called them back; for those of us that are alive we will have to be strong so I enjoin us, as painful as it is, for us as a family to be strong and move on with our lives.”

He added that the Nigerian Army has packages for soldiers and officers lost in the battle. He promised that the packages will get to the next-of-kins of the deceased very soon.