The Chief of Army Staff, (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, said the officers and soldiers who were gruesomely murdered in Okuama community left behind 10 widows, three of whom were pregnant, and 21 children without fathers.

According to him, the Okuama killing has added to the care of the Nigerian Army and, by extension, the Nigerian state, with 10 widows, three of whom are four, five, and eight months pregnant, 21 orphans, and many other dependents, including parents.

“We shall do all within our powers to provide succour to them and preserve the memories of their departed loved ones,” he said.

Lagbaja said he considered his toughest job to be putting fine men and women in harm’s way, sometimes knowing that they might not return to their families and loved ones.

The 17 officers and soldiers gruesomely murdered include Lieutenant Colonel Ali, Major D.E Obi, Major S.D. Ashafa, Captain U. Zakari, Staff Sergeant Yahaya Saidu, Corporal Danbaba Yahaya, Corporal Kabir Bashir, Lance Corporal Abdullahi Ibrahim, Lance Corporal Bulus Haruna, Lance Corporal Sole Opeyemi, Lance Corporal Bello Anas; Private Alhaji Isah, Private Clement Francis, Private Abubakar Ali, Private Adamu Ibrahim, Private Hamman Peter, and Private Ibrahim Adamu.