The Federal Government has honoured serving personnel and veterans of the Nigerian Army for gallantry, sacrifice, innovation and exemplary leadership at the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD) Awards Ceremony in Abuja.
The awards were presented on Tuesday at the AFCRD Gala Night held at the Banquet Hall, State House, where senior military officers, veterans and government officials gathered to celebrate outstanding service to the nation.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, was among the top recipients, received the Service and Sacrifice Award for his selfless leadership and decisive command in counter-insurgency and internal security operations across multiple theatres.
Other recipients of the same category included Major General Abdulsalami Enesi Abubakar, Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, and Major General Faruk Mijinyawa, former General Officer Commanding, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Lagos, who were commended for their exceptional operational leadership and dedication to duty.
Brigadier General Musa Uba was posthumously awarded the Gallantry Award for leading troops from the front during counter-insurgency operations in Borno State, while Brigadier General Usman Ahmad received the Mission Success Award for his role in repelling repeated terrorist attacks and sustaining operational effectiveness under intense pressure.
In the area of innovation, Colonel Ibrahim Mohammed Gero received the Innovation Award for developing a redesigned ballistic gunboat that enhanced operational effectiveness under Operation DELTA SAFE. The late Colonel B. Umaru was posthumously honoured with the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Excellence Award for outstanding intelligence leadership during Operation HADIN KAI.
The late Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ebisingha Alari was also honoured with the Fallen Heroes Award in recognition of his gallantry and pivotal contributions to major counter-terrorism operations in the North-East.
In the veterans’ category, former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), received the Legacy (Service and Sacrifice) Award for reforms that strengthened the Army’s operational capacity between 2015 and 2021, as well as his diplomatic service as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin.
Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd) was honoured with the Sentinel of Freedom Award for his contributions to strategic military communication, peacekeeping operations and advocacy for veterans’ welfare and national security.
Major General Mohammed Sadiq Aliyu (rtd) received the Phoenix Award for resilience and exceptional leadership, having continued to serve despite being wounded in action during counter-insurgency operations.
The annual Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day is dedicated to honouring fallen heroes, recognising serving personnel and celebrating veterans whose courage and professionalism continue to safeguard Nigeria’s sovereignty and unity.
