This is a heartbreaking story of a Nigerian soldier who lost his life fighting for this country. Lance Corporal Daniel Emmanuel Nyako was part of the special forces at the forefront of the Boko Haram menace in Borno State. I got to know about him from Debbie. She is a fan of this blog and a friend. She uses the alias Double Dee and you might have come across her comments in some posts. Daniel Emmanuel Nyako was her elder brother and she is shattered by his painful departure.
Many soldiers have gone and no one really commemorates them or remembers them. They fight to make sure we live and they die while giving us our peace. There’s a lot of politics involved and sadly, these men and women are often times caught up in the fire by giving up their lives for us. I have friends in the army, even those serving in Afghanistan right now and all I have is deep respect for what they do. To leave one’s family and the pleasures of life and take up weapons and face death daily is not something the faint-hearted can do.
Soldiers know at the back of their minds that their lives are at stake when they go to war but they do not go there to lose, especially if what they’re fighting for guarantees peace and freedom for the innocent and helpless. They are there to be victorious and are willing to lay down their lives for the sake of peace.
Daniel Emmanuel Nyako was one of such brave men. And his sister, Debbie wanted me to do this in memory of him.
Here are her own words:
“Daniel was killed while serving his nation and protecting the citizens. All the soldiers said he was good at his job as a ranger. Am glad that he was so good he was a threat to boko haram that they had to plan to kill him with the help of the saboteurs in the Nigerian army. They knew the vehicle he was in and sent shots at his exact location. Even when he managed to jump out and roll to a hiding place they kept on firing at that location directly with an AA.
I remember, during the attack that led to so many soldiers dying and the subsequent removal of the GOC, he was part of the soldiers attacked and when we didn’t hear from him for days we got so worried that he might have been killed, one officer told my sister he said, “Daniel knows his job so well that a bullet would not kill him so don’t worry. He later contacted us and said he was fine. Then again he was part of the people attacked near Damboa, and true to that officer’s words a bullet did not kill my brother. The fragment from an AA hit him in the rib cage, there was no open wound but he bled internally and died afterwards. Am sure it was time that was why he died. I know how he loved been a soldier and he was very good at it. So many of his colleagues have told us they envied the way he knew his work so well and wished they could be like him. If he was an American soldier maybe he would have been celebrated, or his name mentioned as one of the gallant commandos that lived but as a Nigerian soldier all u get is a pre-planned killing and a silent burial with some people at the top getting their pockets filled with blood money. God help us.”
May he rest in peace and may the valiant men and women who have died in this senseless and brutal war against terrorism find eternal solace. May their lives not go in vain.
A loving heart knows the agony of parting, God rest his soul.
Sad part of this war is the way the ones who are meant to face these evil ones compromise for a plate of lentils. The ‘ogas at the top’ who collect blood money and the ones who should motivate the fine soldiers who stand in the line of fire to preserve the sovereignty of the country.
In the camp of the wicked shall be total confusion, and because of Daniel and those who genuinely stand to restore peace and face the ones who have been made themselves willing merchants of death and sorrow, WE SHALL OVERCOME
We truly shall overcome. May his soul rest in peace.
Rest in peace, great soldier.
Rest in peace
May his soul rest in peace.
Rest in peace Daniel!
Thank u Sally. This means a lot to me. I really appreciate. At least through your blog, people no matter how few will come to know about this wonderful brother of mine who loved his job with the whole of his heart. Today 17th is exactly one month to his birthday. His birthday would have been 17th September. I miss him so much. We all miss. We ask for u to uphold us in ur prayers for God to comfort us and give us understanding and closure.
A life that slip away so soon…
Great men don’t die,they fade away…
leaving behind only a deep sense in our my heart that he is no longer here.
Continue to rest in peaceful peace Brother!
Pls take heart dear its well
May His soul.Continually rest in peAce.
May his soul rest in peace. #sigh
So sad. May his soul rest in peace, Amen.
RIP Daniel, Debby we will remember your family in prayers as you wished.
Debbie, thank you and your family for your sacrifice. It’s never easy seeing one of your own fighting, especially when it’s a war that should never have begun. We can’t pretend to understand your grief, but know we are grateful to and thankful for people like your brother who put their lives on the line to fight for our freedom and their families who support them.
May God Grant you and your family the fortitude to bear his loss.
Rip dan…take heart debby…The lord will comfort you
May he RIP….*sad*
Rest in Peace Daniel! Nigeria must win this war against Terrorism! Although your death is painful but You didn’t die in vain. Aluta Continua Victoria Acerta!
am so sorry to hear of your brother’s passing. I
wish the best for you and your family during this
difficult period.
My heart goes out to Debbie and her family. May his soul and the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. I wonder when this senseless killings will stop. I often ask myself who in his right mind will sponsor this evil called Boko Haram. I also wonder if the members of that sect are human. Haba!
Rest in peace sir and God bless your soul for the selfless service.
May he RIP. This piece has made us to know him, and God give his family fortitude to bear this irreparable loss
May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
Rest In Peace.
God rest his soul. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.
May they rest in peace,Dan,B. T sule and the others that gave their lives for us to enjoy peace,rest on dear ones.
My U r soul rest in peace Dan, i know in my hrt dat U are at peace in the bossom of the lord. Debbie may U and Ur family find comfort knowing this
May God rest his soul.
Thank you everyone. Thanks for the prayers and words of comfort. I really appreciate. May God reward each and everyone of you and may you know no pain. Amen
Sorry about your loss, Debbie. May his soul rest in peace and may God heal your hearts.
may his gentle soul rest in peace
What a loss, may God comfort you and your family.
Sleep on Daniel! DD, may God comfort u & ur family.
May his soul rest in peace. And may the blood, sweet and tears he has shed for this country cry out to God for the redemption of this country. God bless and comfort his family.
May His soul find eternal repose. May the Holy Spirit comfort u n ur fam Debbie!