From Segun Amure, (The New Diplomat’s Abuja Bureau)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday raised the hope of Nigerians that his administration will put an immediate end to insurgency.
Buhari who was represented by the Defense Minister, Major General Magashi Salihi at the Juma’at Prayer which held at the National mosque to commemorate the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day said, “this is a year of action and we will finish what we are doing.”
Salihu while appreciating the efforts of the fallen heroes said the country would always remember them, and the day as a historical day to the nation.
“It is not possible for Nigerians, especially the Armed Forces, to forget them in any situation we found ourselves in life and as a country,” he said.
“The sacrifices they have made will always be remembered. And as you can all see, the special prayer is the religious aspect of it, and one of the many activities lined up to honour and remember them.
Recall that a report by a non governmental organisation, Nigeria Mourns, titled “Violent Incidents Report in November 2020,” tracked violent killings across the country.
The report which used newspaper reports and family sources to gather its data said violence cases were recorded in 23 states. The breakdown shows that 309 of those killed were civilians while 40 were security operatives.
The report listed the casualty figures for each of the 23 states as follows:
Borno 162, Edo 57, Kaduna 55, Katsina 12, Delta 11, Zamfara 10, Oyo 5, Ondo 5, Enugu 4, Kogi 3, Kano 3, Ekiti 3, Adamawa 3, Bayelsa 3, Cross River 2, Nasarawa 2, Niger 2, Rivers 2, FCT 1, Akwa Ibom 1, Ebonyi 1, Ogun 1 and Sokoto 1
Buhari encouraged the living ones among the gallant officers to continue with their courageous tendencies in ensuring that the country remained an indivisible corporate entity for the peaceful co-existence of all.
However, Buhari promised to prioritise the welfare, comfort and anything that the families of the fallen heroes require, adding that the country would continue to do that for those they left behind.
