RismadarVoice Reporters, July 6, 2026
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, has unveiled a cenotaph in honour of 11 Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) naval cadets who lost their lives during a training exercise in 1990, reaffirming that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
The memorial was unveiled on Saturday at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School, Onne, Rivers State, where the Army Chief also laid wreaths in remembrance of the fallen cadets.
Addressing military personnel, dignitaries and families of the deceased, Lieutenant General Shuaibu described the occasion as a solemn tribute to his coursemates of the 41 Regular Course, whose commitment to national service was cut short while undergoing military training.
He recalled that the cadets died on July 23, 1990, when a boat conveying 23 first-year NDA naval cadets collided with a stationary jetty and capsized during a boat-handling exercise at the then Nigerian Naval College, Onne, resulting in the death of 11 cadets.
The Army Chief said the memorial symbolises the Armed Forces’ enduring values of honour, courage, discipline and selfless service, noting that remembering fallen personnel strengthens institutional continuity and inspires future generations of officers.
Lieutenant General Shuaibu commended the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School for preserving the memory of the fallen cadets through the cenotaph, expressing confidence that the monument would continue to inspire officers to place national interest above personal considerations.
He also assured the families of the deceased that the Armed Forces of Nigeria would continue to honour the memory and sacrifice of their loved ones, whose legacy, he said, remains permanently etched in the nation’s military history.
Representing the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibrahim Abbas, Rear Admiral J.N. Mamman described the cenotaph as a lasting symbol of remembrance for the fallen cadets and urged serving personnel to draw inspiration from their dedication to duty and service to the nation.
