KEY POINTS
- FG confers Armed Forces honours on serving and fallen officers.
- Armed Forces honours include gallantry, innovation and service awards.
- Fallen Borno ambush victim recognised for frontline leadership.
Nigeria’s Federal Government has conferred national honours on serving personnel and veterans of the Nigerian Army, including a brigadier general killed in a terrorist ambush in Borno State, recognising acts of gallantry, leadership, innovation and sacrifice.
The honours were presented at the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day Gala Night held Tuesday at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja, according to a statement issued Wednesday by Army spokesperson Appolonia Anele.
Among the recipients was Brigadier General Musa Uba, who received the Gallantry Award posthumously for leading troops from the front during counter-insurgency operations in the North-East. Uba was killed in November 2025 when terrorists ambushed troops along the Damboa Road axis near Wajiroko in Borno State while they were transporting military equipment.
Armed Forces honours recognise frontline leadership
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, received the Service and Sacrifice Award for what the Army described as decisive leadership across multiple internal security and counter-insurgency theatres.
Other recipients in the same category included Major General Abdulsalami Enesi Abubakar, Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI, and Major General Faruk Mijinyawa, former General Officer Commanding of the 81 Division in Lagos, both cited for operational leadership and dedication to duty.
Brigadier General Usman Ahmad received the Mission Success Award for his role in repelling repeated terrorist attacks and sustaining operational effectiveness under intense pressure.
In the innovation category, officials honoured Colonel Ibrahim Mohammed Gero for developing a redesigned ballistic gunboat deployed in support of Operation DELTA SAFE. The Army said the platform strengthened maritime and riverine operations in the Niger Delta.
Armed Forces honours spotlight sacrifice, innovation
Organisers presented several awards posthumously. Late Colonel B. Umaru received the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Excellence Award for his contributions to Operation HADIN KAI, while late Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ebisingha Alari received the Fallen Heroes Award for his role in counter-terrorism operations in the North-East.
In the veterans’ category, former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), received the Legacy (Service and Sacrifice) Award for reforms carried out during his tenure from 2015 to 2021 and his subsequent diplomatic service as Nigeria’s ambassador to Benin.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, urged the Armed Forces to remain disciplined, loyal and united, describing them as guardians of Nigeria’s democracy. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to military welfare and announced two initiatives the “Thank-A-Soldier Electronic Wall” and the “My Nigerian Hero Campaignto” enable public recognition of serving personnel and veterans.
The Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day takes place annually to honour fallen heroes, recognise serving officers, and celebrate veterans.
