In the wake of a devastating ambush that claimed the lives of her husband and 16 other military personnel, Hauwa Ali, widow of the late Lt Col A.H. Ali, has made a poignant plea against allowing her children to join the military.
The harrowing incident unfolded on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in the Okuama community of the Ughelli South local government area in Delta state.
During an exclusive interview with Daily Trust, Hauwa Ali recounted the shock and sorrow of losing her beloved husband in the line of duty.
“I did not know that the peace mission Ali and others had embarked on would be their last,” she expressed, highlighting the unpredictable nature of military service.
Lt Col Ali, who served as the Commanding Officer of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, was described by his wife as an exemplary figure, dedicated to both his family and his work.
“Words cannot describe him because he was everything to us,” Hauwa reminisced. “Apart from his family, he sacrificed his life for Nigeria, and that’s the price he has paid.”
The tragic incident, which occurred during a peace mission aimed at resolving a communal crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities, has prompted widespread condemnation and calls for justice.
The Defence Headquarters has initiated a vigorous manhunt to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for the cold-blooded murder of 17 officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army.
Expressing her anguish, Hauwa Ali revealed the devastating impact of her husband’s untimely death. “We know that death is inevitable. As Muslims, we have to die at some point in time, but I am really shattered by the way my husband was killed,” she lamented.
Recounting their final conversation before he embarked on the ill-fated mission, she revealed, “He called me that very day and told me that he was going for a peace mission. I never knew that it was the last time we would speak.”
The delay in receiving news of her husband’s demise only added to the agony for Hauwa Ali. “Nobody could call to tell me the news until Saturday.
“ I was called from the State House,” she disclosed, highlighting the anguish endured by families of fallen soldiers.
In a resolute stance against military service for her children, Hauwa Ali declared, “I will not advise any of his children to be in the military. Their father has already sacrificed his life for the country.”
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