Tears as 22 officers killed in Niger buried (PHOTOS)

A somber ambiance enveloped the National Military Cemetery in Abuja on Friday as the rank and file of the Nigerian Armed Forces, along with grieving family members and friends, gathered for the interment of 22 military personnel who tragically lost their lives in combat in Niger State.

The heart-wrenching event commemorated the lives of 36 officers who were fatally engaged in battle, including an air mission, on August 14, as confirmed by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ).

Prominent dignitaries attended the solemn ceremony, including the Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Deputy Governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba; Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Gwabin Musa; and several other distinguished service chiefs.

While some of the fallen officers had already been laid to rest by their families, the joint burial ceremony gathered the collective sorrow of the nation, paying respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.

See photos from the burial below…