By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
Nigeria turned the spotlight on its battle-tested soldiers and veterans on Tuesday night as the Federal Government rolled out a cascade of honours for gallantry, sacrifice and innovation at the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD) Awards Ceremony in Abuja.
Held at the State House Banquet Hall, the gala was less a ceremonial gathering than a national statement one that framed the country’s long-running security battles as a collective effort sustained by leadership, courage and quiet endurance on multiple fronts.
Army Chief Takes Centre Stage
At the heart of the evening was the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, who received the Service and Sacrifice Award, a recognition of what officials described as decisive leadership across Nigeria’s counter-insurgency and internal security theatres.
The award acknowledged Shaibu’s role in coordinating complex operations under sustained pressure, as the military confronts terrorism, banditry and other asymmetric threats.
Also honoured under the Service and Sacrifice category were Major General Abdulsalami Enesi Abubakar, Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI, and Major General Faruk Mijinyawa, former General Officer Commanding of 81 Division, Lagos.
Both officers were recognised for operational leadership that, according to the citations, blended tactical precision with sustained troop morale in demanding environments.
The ceremony spotlighted battlefield courage, with Brigadier General Musa Uba receiving the Gallantry Award for leading troops from the front during counter-insurgency operations in Borno State.
Brigadier General Usman Ahmad was presented with the Mission Success Award for his role in repelling repeated terrorist attacks and maintaining operational effectiveness under intense pressure.
Innovation Beyond the Battlefield
Not all honours were for combat alone.
Colonel Ibrahim Mohammed Gero was awarded the Innovation Award for designing and deploying a redesigned ballistic gunboat, a platform that significantly boosted operational reach under Operation DELTA SAFE.
The recognition underscored the growing emphasis on home-grown solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges.
Two posthumous awards drew solemn reflection. Late Colonel B. Umaru received the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Excellence Award for exceptional intelligence leadership during Operation HADIN KAI, while Late Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ebisingha Alari was honoured with the Fallen Heroes Award for gallantry and pivotal contributions to counter-terrorism operations in the North-East.
In the veterans’ category, former Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd) was presented with the Legacy (Service and Sacrifice) Award for reforms that expanded the Army’s operational capacity between 2015 and 2021, and for his post-service diplomatic role as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin.
Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd) received the Sentinel of Freedom Award for his contributions to strategic military communication, peacekeeping and advocacy for veterans’ welfare and civic values.
The honours extended beyond uniforms and commands. Major General Mohammed Sadiq Aliyu (rtd) was recognised with the Phoenix Award for resilience and leadership, having continued distinguished service despite being wounded in action.
Colonel Olubunmi Oyekola (rtd) received the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award for successfully transitioning military discipline into a thriving catering and hospitality business.
Colonel Bartholomew Chukwuemeka Ogbonna (rtd) was honoured as a Community Champion for grassroots development initiatives spanning healthcare, water projects and youth mobilisation into the Armed Forces.
Master Warrant Officer Manu Garba was awarded the Distinguished Citizen Service Medal for 35 years of meritorious service and sustained post-retirement community engagement.
The Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day remains Nigeria’s annual moment of collective reckoning, honouring fallen heroes, celebrating serving personnel and recognising veterans whose service underwrites national sovereignty and resilience.
Tuesday’s ceremony, heavy with symbolism and stories of sacrifice, served as a reminder that behind Nigeria’s security architecture stand individuals whose contributions rarely make headlines, but continue to shape the country’s survival and stability.
