Abuja, Nigeria – Liberia’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Al-Hassan Conteh on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 joined the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari and other high-ranked Nigeria government officials in honoring the country’s fallen heroes.
A release from the Liberian Embassy in Abuja says the Liberian Ambassador who represented the Diplomatic Community as its Acting Dean laid wreaths for the fallen heroes at a colourful outdoor ceremony. The event which held at the National Arcade in Abuja commemorated this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration (AFRDC).
The AFRDC is an annual event organized by Nigeria’s Ministry of Defense to honor the country’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives during the First and Second World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War, international peace support and missions, and various internal security operations, particularly Nigeria’s current war against terrorism.
According to the release, the event is also used to honor veterans who are still alive and to also solicit financial support for their well-being and the families of the fallen heroes.
At Tuesday’s ceremony, President Buhari led an array of government officials who all took turns in the laying of wreaths in honor of the soldiers who died in service both in Nigeria and on international duties.
President Buhari also inspected the Guard of Honor from various guard brigades of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Other high-ranked Nigerian officials who laid wreaths included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Other Nigerian government functionaries and military and other paramilitary service chiefs, as well as a representative of the diplomatic corps and one of the widows of one of the fallen soldiers also laid wreaths at the cenotaph of the ‘Unknown Soldiers’ of the National Arcade opposite the historic Eagle’s Square in Abuja, the release continues.
After Christian and Muslim prayers were offered for Nigeria and the departed souls, a minute of silence was also observed for the fallen heroes.
At the same time, the wreath-laying ceremony was also replicated simultaneously across Nigeria where governors of the various states also laid wreaths and paid homage to their national heroes, the release concludes.