Vice-President Kashim Shettima has affirmed that the Tinubu administration will not forget the sacrifices of the Nigerian military. Speaking in Maiduguri on Saturday, Shettima made the pledge while expressing condolences over the death of Brig.-Gen. Oseni Braimah and other officers killed in an attack. The incident occurred during a military operation in Borno State, where security forces have been engaged in ongoing counterinsurgency efforts. Shettima described the fallen officers as heroes who gave their lives protecting communities, families and the nation's future. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to provide sustained operational support and welfare for military personnel. "These men wore the uniform for all of us. They stood to protect our communities, our families, and the future of our children. Their courage reminds us that peace and security often come at a very heavy cost," Shettima said. The vice-president's statement was delivered in the presence of representatives from the Nigerian Army and the Borno State government.
Kashim Shettima's public pledge in Maiduguri carries more weight than mere condolence—it signals a deliberate effort to position the Tinubu administration as one that honours military sacrifice, especially in the Northeast where security losses are frequent and deeply felt. By naming Brig.-Gen. Oseni Braimah and acknowledging the fallen officers directly, Shettima personalises a narrative that has often been reduced to statistics in official statements.
This moment also reflects the administration's need to rebuild trust with the military, which in recent years has faced criticism over logistics, morale and transparency in casualty reporting. The promise of sustained operational support and welfare comes against a backdrop of troops operating in difficult terrain with limited resources. Shettima's presence in Maiduguri, a frontline city in the fight against insurgency, adds symbolic value to the message, even as actual policy outcomes remain to be seen.
For soldiers' families and communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, such assurances matter only if they translate into better equipment, prompt medical care, and timely compensation. Empty rhetoric offers no comfort where loss is constant and tangible.
This is not an isolated gesture but part of a broader pattern where Nigerian leaders invoke military bravery during crises, often without structural follow-through. The challenge lies in moving beyond speeches to measurable investment in national defence.
