Relations of soldiers killed in battles against insurgents in the North-East have expressed anguish over the death of their loved ones, calling the government to end the killings
The relatives charged the Federal Government to show genuine commitment to tackling insurgency by properly adequate arms and ammunition, improving the welfare of military personnel, and caring for the families of fallen soldiers.
According to widow of a slain army sergeant in Benue State who craved anonymity, she would never allow any of her relatives to join the military except the war against Boko Haram in the North-East is stopped.
The said the military had warned her and others not to speak to the press, said her husband was killed in Borno about three months ago during one of the attacks on military formations.
“Because of what my husband went through, I will not encourage anyone close to me to join the military again. The soldiers were facing terrorists without proper weapons and other necessities. They lacked decent shelter and food. Their salary is also poor. The government is wasting the lives of innocent people fighting the terrorists,” she said.
The widow, who had three children with the slain soldier, said the family had been struggling to survive since his passing and called on the military to pay the entitlements of all soldiers who died in active service and compensate their families.
Also speaking, a Gombe indigene, Shamsudeen Abdullahi, whose brother, Kamaludeen Abdullahi, was killed on May 7, 2025, in battle, said their family was in disarray.
He said Boko Haram in Gwoza, killed his 30-year-old Kamaludeen brother an indigene of Yalmatu-Deba in Gombe State.
“Life has been tough without our brother. He got married last year, and his wife is currently pregnant. He was very supportive to family members; our mother received N20,000 monthly from his salary, and some others got N10,000, N5,000,” Shamsudeen said.
He noted that the late soldier had applied for reposting out of Borno before he was killed.
“A week later, an army captain died at Izage, and my brother was deployed to replace him. He, too, is gone now,” he said.
He urged the government and security agencies to end insurgency as soon as possible.
Speaking in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, the Coordinator of the Military Widows’ Association in the state, Asma’u Noma, said many military widows were experiencing hardship with no support from the authorities.
“Some of them regret marrying soldiers because of the ill-treatment they have received after their husbands’ untimely deaths. If the government continues to turn a blind eye to the plight of military widows, no parent will allow their son to join the army,” she said.
She said about 30 per cent of widows have yet to access their life insurance or death benefits.
“A lot of them are wallowing in poverty and hunger,” she said.
Asma’u appealed to the Federal Government and military high command to come to their aid.
Another military officer widow, Malama Abdullahi, who lost her husband in Maiduguri during an attack by Boko Haram, decried the failure of the military authorities to support the families of slain soldiers.
She said life had been hellish since her husband died.
The widow, who has four children and currently lives with her relatives in the Karkasara area of Tarauni LGA in Kano State, said the military must design a comprehensive welfare package for the families of fallen soldiers.
“The condition of most families of deceased soldiers, especially those with lower ranks, is very poor. They cannot feed properly, let alone pay their children’s school fees or settle medical bills.
“I wonder why families of those who sacrificed their lives for the country are not being looked after. If not for my relatives, we would have been sleeping on the streets,” she lamented.
Also speaking, an anonymous retired colonel of the Nigerian Army in Dutse, Jigawa State, said the government must boost the morale of troops by improving their welfare and providing them with adequate support and equipment.
“The government must take concrete steps to address the concerns of soldiers and their families. This includes tackling corruption, improving welfare, and ensuring adequate support for both serving personnel and bereaved families.
“Without these reforms, the future of the military looks bleak, and the nation’s security hangs in the balance,” he said.
