Captain Aliyu Hajji, an infantry officer killed in a brutal ambush in Plateau State, has been laid to rest with full military honors in Abuja as his family recounts the chilling final moments of his life.
Captain Aliyu Hajji, an infantry regimental officer who was murdered alongside several colleagues and local vigilantes in Plateau State, was laid to rest at the Lungi Brigade Military Cemetery, Asokoro Barracks, Abuja, on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Hajji, a native of Lokoja, Kogi State, was killed during an ambush on Friday, March 13, in the Garga area of Kanam Local Government. His family has described his passing as a “monumental loss,” with the head of the family, Alhaji Danladi Abdulsalam, stating: “Captain Hajji’s death has been widely mourned by family members, colleagues and members of his community. He died as a hero in the service of his father land.”
The circumstances surrounding the officer’s death have left his family in deep anguish and confusion. According to a family member, Alhaji Musa Tanimu Nasidi, Hajji’s final contact was a phone call to his wife, where he promised to return shortly from a routine patrol around the Wanka, Kyaram, and Gyambau communities. When he failed to return, his wife attempted to call his phone, only for a voice claiming to be his killer to answer and inform her that her husband had been executed. Nasidi noted a disturbing mystery regarding the condition of the body: “His corpse could only be identified by his personal body guard. On checking, there was no trace of bullet wound in his body. That is another riddle waiting to be unravel by the appropriate authorities.”
As the Nigerian military continues to investigate the ambush—which local reports suggest claimed the lives of up to 20 personnel—Hajji is being remembered as a dedicated patriot who lived with humility and faith. Friends recalled that shortly before his death, he had posted a heartfelt tribute on social media marking the first anniversary of his mother’s passing. Alhaji Nasidi emphasized the heavy toll of the ongoing security crisis, remarking: “The young infantry regimental officer died courageously while protecting his country and its citizens from criminal elements threatening peace and security.” The family is currently awaiting an official report from the military authorities to clarify the cause of death and facilitate support for the widow and children left behind.
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