The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, has urged the Federal Government to ensure the provision of good and functional weapons and resources to acquire transparently and accountably modern technology to lessen casualties and defeat terrorism and banditry.
Kaigama also enjoined the government to ensure the prompt payment of benefits to families of fallen heroes and pay close attention to the welfare of the veterans still alive
He said such measures would motivate others serving in the armed forces to give their all, by serving selflessly.
The cleric said these while speaking at the Armed Forces Inter-Denominational Service as part of activities marking the Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
Kaigama stated: “The authorities must ensure that good and functional weapons are available, provide the resources to acquire transparently and accountably modern technology, to lessen casualties as they engage in a multidimensional fight with bandits, terrorists, criminals, kidnappers, etc.
“With arms and strength of the will, our armed forces men and women can decimate the enemies who don’t wish Nigeria and Nigerians well.”
While describing the situation presently being experienced in Nigeria as the “peace of the graveyard”, the cleric said as long as there are no consequences for wrongdoing, the system will never outgrow corruption.
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Kaigama added: “We owe a lot to our fallen heroes of the armed forces, for the supreme price paid and sacrifice made to unite this country and to represent it abroad excellently. Their loyalty, commitment, dedication to service have culminated in the freedom, democracy, and some progress we are enjoying today in Nigeria.
“The leaders of the nation at the end of the Civil War thought the Armed Forces Remembrance Day would help heal the wounds of the war. I recall how my uncle left home when I was a child to join the army during the Civil War. We never saw him again. Joining the military is a call to a very serious patriotic service. You know the outcome could be that by God’s grace, you could serve out your years and retire gloriously – officers are pulled out in a special ceremony.
“We owe it a duty to pray for those who risked their lives to defend us and our territorial integrity. By this honour we give them, we are saying that military service is not just socially a useful job but a good and honourable vocation which is also a very risky one. We must never forget those who died gallantly in active service and the families they left behind. We doff our hats to veterans still alive.”
Archbishop Kaigama further enjoined security agencies not to allow political, racial, regional, and religious interests to undermine their cohesion.
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