Defence ministers honour fallen soldiers in Borno, reaffirm commitment to end insurgency

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, on Tuesday paid tribute to soldiers killed in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, assuring Nigerians of the Federal Government’s resolve to restore lasting peace in the Northeast.

The ministers arrived at the Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri at about 2:38 p.m., accompanied by senior military officers, including the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abubakar Abdulsalam, and other field commanders.

At the cemetery, Musa and Matawalle laid wreaths in honour of the fallen troops, describing them as heroes who paid the ultimate price in service to the nation.

Earlier, the ministers visited Governor Babagana Zulum and commiserated with the state government over a recent bomb blast that killed 23 people and left 108 others injured.

Speaking during the visit, Musa assured that the Federal Government would not relent in its efforts to defeat terrorism in the region.

“Borno remains our home, and whatever happens to Borno happens to all of us. We want to assure you that we will not relent until there is total peace,” he said.

He added that President Bola Tinubu is committed to providing the necessary support to the Armed Forces and other security agencies to achieve that objective.

Musa also extended condolences to victims of the attack, praying for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives.

Responding, the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Umar Kadafur, who represented Governor Zulum, commended the military for its sacrifices and continued efforts in stabilising the state.

“We cannot thank you enough for your sacrifice. As a state, we sympathise with you over the loss of your soldiers from attacks in various locations,” he said.

Kadafur, however, called for improved coordination between ground and air components of Operation Hadin Kai to enhance operational effectiveness.

The tribute comes weeks after the Nigerian Army buried soldiers killed in action during counter-insurgency operations in the state, highlighting the ongoing human cost of the conflict.