BREAKING: Tinubu confers posthumous national honours on slain soldiers, promises houses, scholarships to their families
President Bola Tinubu has conferred posthumous national honours on the 17 soldiers who were killed in Okuama community of Delta State.
The award was conferred at the burial ceremony held at the National Cemetery, Abuja, on Wednesday, March 27.
This was announced in a post by the special assistant to President Tinubu on social media, Dada Olusegun.
He wrote: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has posthumously awarded the 17 heroes of the Okuama massacre with National Honours
“The 4 ranking officers have been awarded with the Member of the Order of Niger (MON). The remaining 13 officers have been awarded the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).”
Tinubu arrived at the National Cemetery venue of the burial of the 17 army personnel killed in Delta State at about 4:08 pm
He was the special guest of honour at the event.
Other personalities at the National Cemetery for the burial are Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, Kano State Governor, Yusuf Abba Gida, Imo State Governor, Bayelsa State Governor, Deputy Senate President, and Speaker of House of Representatives.
Others are Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Manuel Ogalla.
The army personnel were killed by youths while on a peace mission in Delta State.
The President also said the families of the soldiers would be provided housing and full educational scholarships to the university level.
He said this during his speech at the burial ceremony as announced in a post by Dada Olusegun.
He wrote: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says the federal government will provide housing to each of the families of the fallen heroes anywhere they choose within the country.
“The federal government also awarded the children of the fallen heroes full educational scholarships to the University level including the ones still in the womb of their mothers. FG also appeals to the Military Pensions Board that all their emoluments must be paid within 90 days.”