Human Angle

Armed Force Remembrance Day: Touching Story of How Cleric’s Uncle Left Home During Civil War and Never Came Back

Published

7 hours ago

Jan 16, 2025.

Armed Force Remembrance Day: Touching Story of How Cleric's Uncle Left Home During Civil War and Never Came Back

The Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970 continues to evoke a range of emotions and lessons for the nation.
Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama recall during the armed forces rememberance dathow my uncle left home when I was a child to join the army during the Civil War, we never saw him again
Kaigama said all hope was not lost but rather optimism that Nigeria would come back from the brink.

Reflecting on the dark phase of Nigeria’s march towards true nationhood, the Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970 continues to evoke a range of emotions and lessons for the nation.

Eko Hot Blog reports that as Nigeria marked Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, took the opportunity to share his own reflections and insights.

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“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”, he recollected.

According to him, joining the military is a call to a very serious patriotic service, but which total outcome no one could say for sure.

He said it would only be by God’s grace that some would serve out their time gloriously and participate in the glorious pullout special ceremony.

Aside the civil war, he stated: “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 honorable vocation which is also a very risky one.

Picture showing a military personnel showing tribute to fallen heroes during armed Force Remembrance Day

“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.

“A good tribute would be to help their families by donating to them either personally or collectively.

“The political authorities must ensure the prompt payment of benefits to families of fallen heroes and pay close attention to the welfare of the veterans still alive.

“This will motivate others who are serving presently in the armed forces to give their all, by serving selflessly”.

Directing attention to the increased insecurity in the country, he said all hope was not lost but rather optimism that Nigeria would come back from the brink.