At a solemn occasion to bury Nigeria’s dead soldiers, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, with a dead-pan face issued a message to terrorists who killed the officers and men under his watch: we will fish out, we will neutralise you.
He issued the death-promise in Abuja on Friday at the burial of 20 men mowed down by terrorists in Niger.
The general vowed that the military would go after terrorists and avenge the death of soldiers killed recently in Niger State.
Musa added that bandits and other enemies of Nigeria will be hunted down and face justice.
The military would not be watching and allowed the enemies of Nigeria continue to destroy lives and properties, he said.
He described the burial of the men as a painful and difficult one.
“But I want to assure the families that their death is not in vain. We appreciate them, we pray for them and we will ensure that those that did this must pay for it.
“I use this opportunity to call all commanders, all troops all over Nigeria, that we must avenge this.
“Those that did this and those that have continued to kill our men wherever they are, we will get them out.”
It was a humbling and sober event with weeping, wailing, and red eyes as the Karmajiji military Cemetery played host to the family, friends, and colleagues to the dead heroes.
There was a line-up of ambulances dropped off the remains of 20 of the men.
Musa vowed that the military would smoke the gunmen out and ensure they never had opportunity to kill any other person.
The CDS said the burial was to also celebrate the soldiers’ lives and extra extraordinary contributions they had made, adding that their selflessness and unwavering dedication to duty would forever be remembered.
He assured the deceased families that the military would stand with them in their grief and would continue to support them during this difficult time.
22 soldiers were killed in an ambush in the Zungeru area of Niger State, while seven were wounded.
The NAF helicopter was on a mission to evacuate the deceased and wounded troops when it crashed in the Chukuba area of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State on August 13.
The crashed helicopter was conveying 14 bodies of the previously killed soldiers and seven wounded ones, two pilots, and two crew members.
