Father Of Slain Soldier Speaks About His Son's Death

The father of the young captain, Benjamin Toyiring Sule who was killed 8 months after his wedding by members of the Boko Haram during an ambush on the troops in Bama area of Borno State, has recounted how his son died serving the country.

Speaking to Leadership at his residence in Kaduna, Suleiman Yusuf Farman said his son was among the first batch that were taken to Aba, Abia State when the kidnapping issue started shortly after he graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). They fought the kidnappers and rescued Aba from them.

Capt. Benjamin Toyiring Sule

After his Aba mission, he was sent o Liberia and on his return, he got married on November 30, 2013. Two weeks after his marriage, he was taken to Bama, an area in Borno State, where he met his death.

According to him, though his son’s demise was painful, he was happy his son died while defending the country.

He said, “I see my son’s death as too sudden; however I take solace on Jesus Christ who admonished us to give thanks to Him in every situation we found ourselves. So, I am thanking God that he gave me a son and he grew up to go and defend the country and while on it his life was taken. The Boko Haram will have consumed all of us if everybody is unwilling to be a soldier. But, I thank God that my son gave his life for the country.”

He added that his son has paid the price and he will be happy and fulfilled if his son’s death will bring peace to the nation.

The 63-year-old man said his family was aware their son was dead but they are yet to be officially informed by the Nigerian military.

He therefore asked the Nigerian army to bring back his son’s corpse for his mother and young wife to see.

Boko Haram has been waging war against security agents, who have been killing their members in different parts of the country. Many soldiers have lost their lives in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. Captain Sule is the latest victim of Boko Haram attack on Nigerian soldiers. He was killed in an ambush by Boko Haram fighters last Sunday, on a military contingent in Borno.