TheCable

President Goodluck Jonathan led leaders of the legislature and judiciary, military and para-military organisations to honour Nigeria’s fallen heroes at the national arcade in Abuja on Thursday.

January 15 has been set aside as Nigeria’s armed forces remembrance day and the 2015 edition was themed ‘Appreciating the Nigerian Armed Forces’.

The president, who is also the Grand Patron of the Nigerian Legion, arrived the venue of the programme around 10am and prayers were offered after the rendition of the national anthem and inspection of parade.

Shortly after the prayers, the president laid a wreath, followed by Namadi Sambo, the vice-president; David Mark, the senate president and Emeka Ihedioha, the deputy speaker of the federal house of representatives.

Mahmoud Mohammed, the chief justice of Nigeria; Aliyu Gusau, minister of defence and Bala Mohammed, minister of federal capital territory, also took part in the wreath laying ceremony.

Alex Badeh, the chief of defence staff; Kenneth Minimah, the chief of army staff; Usman Jibrin, the chief of naval staff and Adesola Amosu, the chief of air staff; Suleiman Abba, the inspector-general of police, laid wreaths as well.

After the wreath laying, military and para-military men on parade fired guns shots and saluted.

The president thereafter released white pigeons, which signifies freedom, unity, peace and harmony for the country and also signed the register.

The annual ceremony is held to honour and remember fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and unity of the country.

The ceremony is also meant to appreciate members of the armed forces who survived various wars.

The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is globally celebrated on November 11 to honour members of the armed forces who died during the First and Second World wars.

However, in order to reflect Nigeria’s peculiar historical experience, January 15 of every year is set aside to commemorate the end of the Nigerian civil war.