Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has unveiled a cenotaph in honour of 11 Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) naval cadets who lost their lives in a boat accident during a training exercise in 1990.
The monument was unveiled on Sunday during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS), Onne, Rivers State. The event was held to commemorate the fallen cadets of the 41 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, the same course to which the Army chief belongs.
The cadets died on July 23, 1990, during a boat handling exercise at the then Nigerian Naval College, Onne, in what remains one of the most tragic training accidents in the history of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shaibu said the event was organised to honour the memory and sacrifice of the young cadets whose military careers were cut short by the tragedy.
“We gather not merely to commission a monument but to consecrate a sacred place of remembrance for our beloved course mates,” he said.
The Army chief described the cenotaph as a lasting tribute to 11 patriots whose aspirations to serve the nation ended during a routine military training exercise.
According to him, the cadets were participating in a boat handling exercise when their boat collided with a stationary jetty and capsized.
“On that fateful day, 11 promising officers in the making lost their lives. It remains one of the saddest chapters in the history of military training in Nigeria,” he said.
Shaibu noted that although the cadets did not die in combat, they paid the ultimate price while preparing to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Their sacrifice is no less profound, and their memory deserves to be preserved and honoured for generations to come,” he added.
He said the cenotaph symbolises courage, selfless service, comradeship and unwavering commitment to duty, adding that it would serve as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made by military personnel in service to the nation.
The Army chief also extended his sympathy to the families of the deceased cadets, assuring them that their loved ones’ sacrifice would never be forgotten.
Also speaking, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, described the monument as long overdue and commended the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School and the Naval Training Command for completing the project.
Abbas said the cenotaph reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to preserving the memory of the cadets and ensuring that their sacrifice remains honoured by future generations.
