BAN Partners Rotary Club to Support Nigerian Troops Fighting Terrorism

…Visits widows of fallen soldiers in Bori Camp

Sunday Okobi

A group, which represents unity and values for all Nigerians from different works of life, tribes and religions, Brothers Across Nigeria (BAN), has partnered Rotary Club International to provide support for Nigerian troops fighting terrorism in the North-east region of Nigeria.

The value-oriented group, which launched the ‘Support our troops against terrorists (SOTAT) in its Rivers and Bayelsa State chapter in 2014, as a vehicle to mobilise the citizens to play nationalistic roles by supporting the efforts of troops in fighting against terrorists and criminal elements in the country, visited the widows of fallen soldiers at the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army in Bori Camp.

The programme, according to it, has become one of the focuses of BAN as it identifies with the original ideals of the group.

At this year’s event, which took place on October 1 in the Rivers and Bayelsa States chapter, BAN, in collaboration with Rotary Club International, visited widows of fallen soldiers at the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army in Bori Camp and showered them, led by Nigerian Army Officers Wife Association (NAOWA), with gift items, cash gifts and words of encouragements, describing their husbands as true heroes of Nigeria.

Introducing the two groups, the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association, Liaison Officer (NAOWA), Lieutenant Mercy Aboki, commended the efforts of the groups for remembering the widows of slain soldiers on a national day like the Independence Day.

The President of the Rivers and Bayelsa States chapter of BAN, Mr. Ken Minimah, harped on the need for Nigerians to always remember these families whose husbands and breadwinners died serving the country.

Speaking on behalf of BAN, an official of the group, Azubuike Onowu, commended the women for staying strong after losing their bread winners, while saluting the heroic roles played by their husbands in keeping the country free of terrorists and other criminal elements.

Speaking to journalists after the event, a former President of the chapter, Mr. Ken Agala, told journalists that Brothers Across Nigeria is a group with a utopian concept to show Nigerians that everyone can be united into one pot of brotherliness irrespective of which language they speak or which god they serve.

He stated that the group’s desire to inaugurate SOTAT “is due to the fact that civilians need to see it as a civic duty to cherish our troops who battle insurgents so that the ordinary citizens can sleep and live in peace.”

BAN and Rotary club also participated in a road show in the city of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while BAN proceeded with its 2021 inter zones sports competition known as GM’s Cup.

Speaking on behalf of the women, the Cantonment Magaija of Bori Camp, Victoria Adama, thanked BAN and Rotary Club for their efforts in remembering widows of slain warriors, and prayed for them.

Other representatives of BAN present were the National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Odebe; the chapter Vice President, Surv Levi Orji, and the Chairman of Local Organizing Committee, Kelechi Eze.