NIGERIA: Seven AU peacekeepers killed last Sunday in Darfur were buried in Nigeria on Friday

Record ID: 234764

  • Title: NIGERIA: Seven AU peacekeepers killed last Sunday in Darfur were buried in Nigeria on Friday
  • Date: 6th October 2007
  • Summary: (W5) ABUJA, NIGERIA (OCTOBER 5, 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS CARRY THE DEAD TO THE GRAVE VARIOUS OF COFFINS BESIDE THE GRAVE SOLDIERS LAY THE DEAD INTO THE EARTH SOLDIERS DOING EARTH TO EARTH TO THE DEAD RELATIVES OF THE DEAD LAYINF THE WREATH ON THE GRAVE OF THE DEAD GENERAL MARTHIN LUTHER AGWAI AND GENERAL LUKA YUSUF SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) GENERAL MARTIN LUTHER AGWAI, SAYING: "Ten people were killed some wounded and others are missing when their position were overwhelmed, out of the ten killed, there was a Major from Mali, who was just promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and who was waiting for four weeks to go and enjoy his new rank, he was married to three wives but he died, there was a major from Botswana, he was also killed and Nigeria alone has seven casualties" AU FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIDELIA NJEZE, NIGERIA MINSTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE SAYING: "Even at this on fortunate event Nigeria will remain resolute and committed towards ensuring regional and world peace" VARIOUS OF RELATIVES OF THE DEAD SOLDIERS CRYING
  • Embargoed: 21st October 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: War / Fighting
  • Reuters ID: LVA6SPTMYN5CJ128DSJHN18VO1GV
  • Story Text: buried seven of the ten AU peace keeping soldiers killed last Sunday (September 30) by the militia in Sudan Darfur region Friday (October 5) in the military cemetery at the administrative capital Abuja.
    Speaking at the funeral the Nigeria born AU military commander General Martin Luther Agwai said out of the ten soldiers killed seven were Nigeria one officer each from Botswana and Mali.
    "Ten people were killed some wounded and others are missing when their position were overwhelmed, out of the ten killed, there was a Major from Mali, who was just promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and who was waiting for four weeks to go and enjoy his new rank, he was married to three wives but he died, there was a major from Botswana, he was also killed and Nigeria alone has seven casualties," Agwai said.
    At the solemn event with relatives of the dead crying, the representative of Nigeria government says Nigeria remains resolute towards ensuring regional and world peace.
    "Even at this on fortunate event Nigeria will remain resolute and committed towards ensuring regional and world peace," Nigeria Minister of Defence, Fidelia Njeze, said.
    More than 200,000 people have died in Darfur since ethnic African rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated central government, accusing it of discrimination.
    Sudan's government is accused of retaliating by unleashing janjaweed militias, which are blamed for the worst atrocities against civilians in a conflict that has displaced more than 2.5 million people.
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