Nigerian Legion=We have Lost more than100 Members to Boko Haram

The legion was established to cater for the retired soldiers that partook actively in the war in which the country has taken part in.
Col. Micah Gaiya (retd.) who is the national chairman of the group revealed at the emblem launch for the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.,while addressing an audince which included the President,Goodluck Jonathan,that they have lost over 100 of their members who volunteered the military intervention in the north eastern part of nigeria.source


 He also told the audience  that only N30million had been redeemed out of the N105million pledges made by individuals and group during a similar emblem launch held last year.
He said it was painful to the Legion that while the pledges were made in the full glare of the public, it had no opportunity of reporting back that the largest chunk of it had not been redeemed.
He said, “We lost over 100 members to the current insurgency in the North East and the affected families are in dire need of help.
“We intend to organise a special empowerment programme for the victims in the North East zone and the Ministry of Defence will be duly briefed about the proposal in the due cause.
“Let me use this opportunity to honestly thank those who donated to the Nigerian Legion during the last launch.
“I however want to inform us that of the N105 million pledged on December 16, 2013, in this very venue, only N30 million has been redeemed to date.
“The saddest thing is that these pledges are made in the public eye leaving us with no avenue to tell the world that such pledges have not been redeemed.
“We call with loud voice on those that have not redeemed their pledges to honourably do so.”
Apparently learning from that experience, Gaiya appealed to those who attended the Monday event to pledge only what they could afford to redeem.
He said the appeal was necessary so that he would not be wrongly accused of embezzling the group’s money.
While saying that the group is not funded by government, the chairman said it was through the emblem launch that the organisation gets funds to cover its activities.
He recalled that when the group organised the Legion Humanitarian Day on November 27, it empowered widows and gave bursary to the children of some fallen heroes.
He said emphasis was placed on victims of the current insurgency in the country, especially those who are yet to be paid their benefits.