Armed Forces Remembrance Day: “We’ve Been Forgotten”: Military Widows Cry Out for Support

Military widows in Lagos lament neglect by the state government.
They demand direct support for families of fallen heroes.
The Deputy Governor urges Nigerians to aid the affected families.

Widows of military heroes in Lagos State have voiced their anguish over neglect by the state government during the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Mrs. Oluwaseyi Iliya lamented the absence of meaningful support from the Lagos State government despite the sacrifices made by their late husbands.

“Since we have been celebrating the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, there has been no direct impact from the Lagos State government. The only attempt was in 2024, but it benefited just 10 widows,” she said, adding that promises made since then remain unfulfilled.

Iliya painted a bleak picture of the lives of widows whose husbands died serving the nation.

Many of their children face hardship due to a lack of economic support, and efforts to meet with the state government have yielded no results.

“It is our husbands who paid the ultimate price for the nation, yet their families have been abandoned,” she said.

While she commended the Nigerian Army for sponsoring the education of their children, Iliya appealed for direct engagement from the state government to ensure aid reaches those who need it.

“If the armed forces have abandoned us, we don’t expect the state government to do the same,” she added.

In response, Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat urged Nigerians to step up in supporting the families of fallen heroes.

He encouraged well-meaning citizens to sponsor the education and welfare of the children left behind.

As the nation remembers its military heroes, the cries of widows for compassion and support echo a heartbreaking reality, those left behind continue to fight battles of survival and neglect long after their loved ones’ ultimate sacrifice.