The Nigerian Army on Monday honored soldiers wounded in combat operations against insurgents in the Northeast at a special luncheon marking the 2026 Army Day Celebration in Maiduguri.
The event was held at the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital inside Maimalari Cantonment, Borno State. It brought together injured troops, senior military officers, and medical personnel as part of the official commemoration activities.
Wounded Soldiers Recognised for Sacrifice in Counter-Insurgency Operations
The Theatre Commander of the Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, said the luncheon was not just a meal but a deliberate pause to acknowledge the human cost of every operational gain recorded in the theater.
Abubakar was represented at the event by his deputy, Air Vice Marshal Olushola Akinboyewa.
“Every community secured, every terrorist enclave dismantled, every innocent life protected, and every flag of Nigeria that continues to fly proudly over liberated communities has come at a price,” Akinboyewa read on behalf of the Theatre Commander.
“That price has been paid by men and women who answered the call of duty without hesitation.”
He said the Nigerian Army’s greatest asset is not its weapons or equipment but the soldiers who continue to bear the cost of national security with their bodies and lives.
The theater commander’s address went further, directing specific words to the injured troops in attendance.
“To our wounded soldiers, today is about you. You stood where the nation asked you to stand. You faced danger so that others could live in safety.”
Abubakar also referenced fallen soldiers, stating that their names may not be widely known, but their sacrifice is embedded in every territorial gain the task force has recorded.
“Their memory continues to inspire us, and we remain committed to ensuring that neither they nor their families are ever forgotten,” the statement read.
Medical Personnel and Families of Troops Receive Commendation
The Theater Command used the occasion to publicly commend the doctors, nurses, and support staff at the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital for their work in treating and rehabilitating wounded personnel.
The command acknowledged that recovery from combat injuries is rarely a short or simple process and said families of wounded soldiers deserve equal recognition for the support they provide through what is often a long and difficult period.
“To our troops still serving across the theater, let today’s event send a clear message. The institution does not forget those who sacrifice in its service. We stand together in battle, and we stand together afterwards,” the statement added.
Earlier in the program, the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brigadier General Solomon Diwa, addressed the wounded troops directly during his welcome remarks.
Diwa said the scars carried by the soldiers in attendance are not marks of weakness. He described them as badges of honor that bear witness to their conduct under fire.
He framed the luncheon itself as a symbol of the bond between the Nigerian Army as an institution and every soldier who has been injured serving it.
“To our wounded warriors, I wish to assure you that your welfare remains a top priority of the Nigerian Army. We fully recognize the challenges that come with recovery and rehabilitation, and every effort will be made to ensure you receive the best medical care and support available,” Diwa said.
The Army Day Celebration is an annual event on the Nigerian military calendar. The 2026 edition in Borno State placed the Northeast theater and its ongoing counter-insurgency mandate at the center of the commemoration, given the sustained operations that have run in the region for over a decade.
Operation Hadin Kai, which coordinates military action against insurgents across the Northeast, has reported territorial recoveries and the degrading of armed groups in the region over successive years. Details of current operational figures were not made available at the event.
The Nigerian Army did not issue a separate statement following the luncheon. Further details on scheduled Army Day activities across other formations were not immediately available.
