Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
The Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) says no fewer than 120 widows of fallen heroes of the Armed Forces have benefited from its humanitarian gesture.
The President of DEPOWA, and wife if the Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs Oghogho Musa, disclosed this at the weekend while presenting the food items to the widows at Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) in Yenagoa.
The food items, distributed by DEPOWA included bags of rice (25kg), cartons of noodles, tubers of yam, vegetable oil and spaghettis, among others.
Mrs Musa said the benevolence to the less privileged in the society was in accordance with the Association’s mandate.
She commended the windows for marrying the fallen heroes who served and paid the ultimate price with their lives for the nation.
DEPOWA boss said the association holds them at heart even at the demise of their husbands, they will not be forgotten.
“The armed forces of Nigeria will never forget you in a hurry because your husbands will always be remembered for the price and sacrifice, they have paid for their country Nigeria.’’ she said.
She lamented the agonies and pains suffered by widows as a result of the demise of their husbands, saying that DEPOWA would continue to remember them.
“The military community will never forget you because your late husbands sacrificed their lives for the peace and unity of Nigeria.
“What we have done today is just to let you know that they appreciate the sacrifice your husbands made for the nation,’’ she said.
According to her, the beneficiaries should use the food items to support their children and families.
She noted that widows of fallen heroes are always remembered by Defence Headquarters as part of its project.
In his remarks, the OPDS Commander, Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, commended the DEPOWA for its gesture to the wives of fallen heroes in Bayelsa.
According to him, this is one of the series of gestures that DEPOWA president has shown compassion for the wives of the fallen heroes of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Hadiza Tuba, commended the DEPOWA for the gesture, saying that things have never been the same for her since the demise of her husband in 2022.