Retired Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman has paid tribute to fallen Nigerian soldiers, saying a visit to the military cemetery at the Maimalari Military Cantonment offers a sobering reminder of the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces in the line of duty.
Usman made the remarks during an interview with Trust TV, where he reflected on the human cost of Nigeria’s security challenges and the sacrifices made by military personnel protecting the country.
According to the retired military officer, anyone who visits the cemetery and sees the graves of soldiers buried there is unlikely to leave without being deeply moved by the experience.
He explained that the cemetery is a powerful symbol of the price many service members have paid in defending the nation.
“If you go to Maimalari Military Cantonment and see the military cemetery, you will never come back as the person that you were before you went in there,” Usman said during the interview.
Usman noted that the overwhelming majority of the soldiers buried at the cemetery did not die from natural causes but were killed while serving the country.
According to him, nearly all of the graves belong to personnel who lost their lives after suffering gunshot wounds during military operations.
“You look at the graveyard and what is the cause of deaths? Gunshot wounds, almost 99.9 percent,” he said.
The retired general emphasized that the soldiers interred at the cemetery were not elderly people who died after long illnesses but young, healthy, and active men and women whose lives were cut short while carrying out their duties.
He said many of them were in the prime of their lives when they made the ultimate sacrifice in service to Nigeria.
According to Usman, these soldiers gave their lives so that other Nigerians could live in peace and security.
He stressed that their sacrifices should not be forgotten and deserve lasting recognition from both the government and the public.
Usman also reflected on the emotional weight of visiting the cemetery, saying the experience serves as a reminder of the realities faced by members of the Armed Forces on the front lines of conflict.
He argued that seeing the number of graves and learning how many soldiers died from combat injuries helps illustrate the enormous human cost of the country’s fight against insecurity.
The retired military officer further stated that no financial compensation can adequately replace the life of a person who dies while serving the nation.
According to him, although governments may provide support for the families of fallen personnel, the loss of a loved one can never truly be measured in monetary terms.
He urged Nigerians to appreciate the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces and to remember those who have lost their lives defending the country’s territorial integrity and protecting civilians from security threats.
Usman’s remarks come amid continuing discussions about the welfare of military personnel and the challenges faced by troops engaged in counterterrorism and other security operations across Nigeria.
His comments highlighted the personal sacrifices made by soldiers, many of whom, he said, died while carrying out their constitutional responsibility to safeguard the nation.
The retired general’s reflections also underscored the emotional impact of visiting military cemeteries, which stand as permanent reminders of the lives lost in the course of national service.
By drawing attention to the Maimalari Military Cantonment cemetery, Usman sought to emphasize the importance of honoring fallen soldiers and recognizing the cost of maintaining peace and security in the country.
He maintained that the courage and sacrifice of those buried there should continue to inspire national gratitude and reinforce the need to support serving military personnel and the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
