Nigeria honors fallen heroes
On January 15 every year, Nigeria remembers the members of the armed forces who died in active service, fighting to defend the country's unity.
Usually, the day is marked with a remembrance parade by the military, including a minute's silence, playing of the last post, a 21-gun salute, the ceremonial laying of wreaths and release of pigeons to symbolize peace.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari led citizens of the country to honor and pay glowing tributes to the heroes. Across the 36 state capitals in the country, similar events were held in the most colorful fashion.
The top echelon of the Nigerian armed forces and the police, heads of the national parliament, representatives of the surviving war veterans and military widows also laid wreaths at the cenotaph in honor of the fallen heroes.
Beyond the national honor held for the heroes and glowing tributes paid unto them, however, there is still a lot that the government needs to do to alleviate the pains of the surviving spouses of the military personnel, the widow said.
For those who died during active service, their children enjoy a number of benefits, including military-sponsored scholarships from elementary school to the university, according to Veronica Aloko, national president of the Nigerian Military Widows Association (MiWA).
The association, created by the country's military chiefs, also caters to the widows and brings them together to enjoy more benefits.
In September 2019, in providing succour to wives of the thousands of slain military men, no fewer than 2,500 members of MiWA were offered training in various vocations nationwide. (Xinhua)
