For Hadiza Sunama-Pindar, Hedima’s bravery will never be in vain. She said, “Hedima my brother and kinsman, may your bravery never be in vain and may the sacrifice of your life soon bring to an end to the reign of terror that has bedevilled our homestead. Rest well my brother and our hero. Good night as you sleep.”
Other Nigerians called on the Federal Government to immortalise Edema while also ensuring that an end is brought to the Boko Haram menace.
One of them, Zubby Okonkwo wrote, “Your sacrifice for this nation will not be forgotten in a hurry. Even if the present crop of leadership fails to recognise you, the Nigerian masses do. Our hearts go to your loved ones you left behind and may God comfort them. You participated in the struggle to eradicate our land from these brigands of evil. “
Similarly, Christy Iyefu on urged the military to give the slain pilot a befitting burial. “Rest in peace; may God grant your family the fortitude to bear your loss. Salute to a gallant hero. I pray the officers would give you and other fallen comrades a befitting funeral.
“You need to rest in a military cemetery with your name on it. Your epitaph should read, ‘He took 68 enemies with him!’So you’re never forgotten,” she said.
Similarly, Oguru Samuel who commented on the death of the soldier said Hedima was an irreplaceable icon who gave a new meaning to bravery while Obinna Nwachukwu, urged the Federal Government to give Hedima a post-humous award .
Nwachukwu said, “As we mourn this hero who lost his precious life trying to defend the oneness of our country, I suggest that a post-humous award should be given to him. Government should employ his next of kin and above all, a block at any Air force college around the country should be named after him.”
Adding her voice to the tributes, another Nigerian, Pamela Ogbui posted on the Facebook page, “A gallant soldier you were; a great patriot never to be forgotten. We will forever be proud of you.”
“My respect to this legend; we will never forget you. You were a soldier’s soldier. You knew you were going to suffer a brutal death but you never flinched and you spoke with those cowards like a man. I hope Nigerians will learn from you. You are my mentor. Adieu great one,” another Facebook user, Chieff Henryabah said.
When one of our correspondents contacted Olukolade on Saturday for his comment on the identified slain pilot and his missing co-pilot, Olukolade said the military had no comment to make. [eap_ad_1] “The military would speak on the issue at the appropriate time,” he said.
Olukolade had told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday that the military would soon end all activities of Boko Haram.
“We believe we will terminate their activities very soon. By the time they see some devastation around them, all these boastings will stop, and that will come very soon,” he said.
A highly-placed security source, who confided in one of our correspondents on Friday also said the military believed the Shekau in the latest video was not the one that was killed.
Pleading anonymity, the source said once the military was done with studying the videos, it would go after the man claiming to be Shekau.
He said, “Studying the videos is part of the manhunt for the man claiming to be Shekau. The military authorities believe that Shekau has been killed and we will get the person claiming to be him (Shekau.)”
Also, the police said they were working with the military and other security agencies to frustrate every planned attack by Boko Haram insurgents within the country.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu said, “We are aware of the devices of the insurgents and we have evolved measures to combat them. Working with the military, the Police are doing everything necessary to make sure every part of this country is secure.” (Punch)
[eap_ad_4]
