The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has honoured the memory of 11 Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) naval cadets who lost their lives in a tragic training accident 35 years ago, unveiling a cenotaph in their honour at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School, Onne, Rivers State.
Shaibu also laid wreaths at the memorial, describing it as a lasting tribute to the young patriots whose dreams of serving Nigeria were cut short during a boat-handling exercise at the then Nigerian Naval College waterfront on 23 July 1990.
He recalled that 23 first-year NDA naval cadets of the 41 Regular Course were participating in a routine training exercise when their boat collided with a stationary jetty and capsized, claiming the lives of 11 cadets.
According to a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Army Chief said the ceremony reflected the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s enduring commitment to preserving the memory of personnel whose sacrifice continues to inspire service, patriotism and national duty.
Addressing military personnel, dignitaries and families of the fallen cadets, Shaibu said he stood with profound reverence and a deep sense of duty to honour his course mates, whose sacrifice remains one of the most painful chapters in Nigeria’s military training history.
He said the memorial symbolises the Armed Forces’ enduring values of honour, courage, discipline and selfless service, stressing that remembrance is a vital military tradition that strengthens esprit de corps, preserves institutional heritage and inspires future generations of officers.
The Army Chief commended the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School for ensuring the completion of the project, expressing confidence that the monument would continue to remind young officers to place national interest above personal ambition in the service of the country.
He assured the families of the deceased cadets that their loved ones would never be forgotten, noting that their names are permanently etched on the monument, in Nigeria’s military history and in the hearts of their course mates.
Earlier, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, represented by Rear Admiral J. N. Mamman, said the cenotaph was dedicated in honour of the cadets who paid the supreme sacrifice during training. He described the memorial as a place of remembrance and reflection, while praying for the peaceful repose of the fallen officers’ souls.