Abuja: The Federal Government has conferred various honours on senior officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army in recognition of gallantry, sacrifice, innovation, and outstanding contributions to national security. Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, was among those honoured, receiving the Service and Sacrifice Award under the Legacy Award category for his reforms and expansion of operational capacity during his tenure. Buratai was also recognised for his service as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, others honoured with the Service and Sacrifice Award included Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, and Maj.-Gen. Faruk Mijinyawa, former General Officer Commanding, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Lagos. Brig.-Gen. Musa Uba received the Gallantry Award for exceptional courage and leadership in counter-insurgency operations in Borno, while Brig.-Gen. Usman Ahmad was awarded the Mission Success Award for his role in foiling terrorist attacks and maintaining operational effectiveness.
Col. Ibrahim Mohammed-Gero was recognised with the Innovation Award for developing a redesigned ballistic gunboat that enhanced operational effectiveness in Operation DELTA SAFE. The late Col. B. Umaru was posthumously awarded the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Excellence Award for his intelligence contributions to Operation HADIN KAI. Retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman received the Sentinel of Freedom Award for his work in military communication and advocacy for veterans’ welfare.
Retired Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Aliyu clinched the Phoenix Award for resilience and leadership, having continued to serve despite being wounded in counter-insurgency operations in the North-East. Recipients from other services were also recognised during the awards ceremony.
The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, highlighted that the awards represented stories of courage and commitment, forming the bedrock of the nation’s security architecture. He paid tribute to the families of fallen heroes and military veterans for their enduring sacrifices and contributions to national security.
In his vote of thanks, Buratai expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the Ministry of Defence for recognising gallantry and sacrifice within the Armed Forces. He commended the leadership for their efforts in restoring peace and security and paid tribute to the troops on the frontlines.
The event, featuring different award categories for deserving officers, is part of the Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, an annual event dedicated to honouring fallen heroes and recognising serving personnel for their courage and professionalism in safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty.