…….Empowers younger widows
Twenty years after 13 Army Senior Officers, bid the earth farewell following the crash of a Dornier 228 aircraft into a Mountainous area in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue state on the way to Obudu,for a military retreat
Their widows gathered on Thursday September 17th 2026, at the Ikeja Cantomemt, Lagos,to reflect how the occurrence continues to shape their lives.
Though, the occurance has had a devastating toll on their lives, the widows have embraced hope, resilience, and abiding in God, to trudge ahead, not minding the rough road, they have had to travel, since losing their husbands.
It was not a mere gathering but one for sober reflection, and an opportunity to demonstrate love and support to younger widows.
For the last twenty years, these widows have had a new window at peeping at faith, how to live life without their husbands, betraying emotions, while raising their children in the absence of their fathers.
In an emotionally laden speech, President of the Retired Nigeria Army Officers Wives Association RENAOWA, Assistant Comptroller General ACG of Nigeria Immigration Service Doris Braimah (Rtd) whose husband, Major General Yusuf Braimah, also died in the crash, recounted how traumatic, the experience has been without the fallen heroes.
She said “Twenty years, since the sky wept fire and the earth swallowed our dreams. Twenty years since the silence of that day echoed louder than any gunshot, louder than the beating of our broken hearts”.
“Twenty years since we held their uniforms, still warm with the memory of their embrace. Twenty years since we told our children “Daddy is not coming home”, and watched their innocent eyes cloud over with a sorrow, no child should ever know. Twenty years of learning to be both mother and father, of swallowing tears, so our children would not see us break.”
Braimah noted that haven been able to walk through that path with lots of hope, proving that though they were broken, but not destroyed, that is why they have also come together to be with the younger widows of military officers, to journey with them and encourage them
“And now we look into the eyes of a new generation of widows, young women just beginning their own journey through the valley of Shadow and Sorrow. We see ourselves in them,We feel their pain. We know their fear”.
“And we say to them: We have walked this road. We have survived. And so will you.” She added
Braimah noted that the gathering was not only to remember fallen heroes, but to reach out to a new generation of women who have been thrust into the same valley of shadow and sorrow.
She said “To you, our dear young widows, I say with every fibre of my being: you are not alone, we see you and we feel you. We are you.”
Admonishing the younger widows, Braimah said “My dear sisters, I know the temptation to remain in that grieving state: the strange safety of mourning. But I speak the truth in love. Do not dwell in grief for too long, prolonged grief has a devastating impact on your mental, psychological and physical health. It can lead to depression, hypertension, a weakened immune system and isolation. It creates broken children, who look to you for strength and see only despire”.
“Your husband fought for the Nation. He gave his life for you and your children. Will you now give up the life he died to protect? Will you let grief steal what he sacrificed everything to preserve? No. You must rise,”
While offering optimism to the widows, Braimah urged them not to walk the journey alone, invest in their children and not depend on promises, that may never be accomplished.
She further admonished them not to hold anybody at heart, but rather look inwards for self empowerment for a better future
Braimah called for support from all, to help in empowering widows of fallen heroes as a way of reducing their burden.
Also speaking, the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General, Waheed Shuaibu who was represented by the General Officer Commanding, GOC 81 Division Major General A Babalola lauded the initiative by the Army officers wives to support the widows physically psychologically and spiritually..
He assured that the army will continue to support the initiative.
Part of the intervention to the over 40 young widows include food items. financial assistance and there was a raffle draw where some of the widows took home grinding machines
One of the beneficiaries Mrs Emike Lambert, who won one of the grinding machine, described the empowerment as laudable, as it will lift support for their families.
She said “I have another source of income to support my children. I express gratitude for the opportunity. I thank the organisers for remembering younger widows. We never knew they had us in their hearts. I pray that young women will not become widows again”.
The fallen Heroes, being remembered were members of a presidential committee, set up to reposition the army
They died in an air crash, as they travelled from Abuja to Obudu for a retreat.
They include:
Maj. Gen. J.O. Adesunloye, GOC 81 Division
Maj. Gen. S.O Otubu, Chief of policy and plans
Maj. Gen. S.M. Lemu, Chief of Administration
Maj. Gen. A. M Bamalli, GOC, 2 Division
Maj Gen P.M Haruna, Commandant Nigeria Army Signals.
Maj. Gen. J.T.U Amedu
Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation
Maj. Gen. B. Duniya, Commandant, Ordnance Course Schools and Maj. Gen. J.O. Agboola, military secretary.
Others are Maj. Gen. Y. T Braimah, Commandant, 1 Brigade
Brig. Gen. M. B. Bawa, Coordinator, Special Vehicle Plant. Bauchi
Lt-Col. M.A. Mohammed, Directing Staff, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji
Wing Commander, S.S Balogun, Pilot
Wing Commander, E.O Adekunle, Co-Pilot
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