Military Pensions Board honours Murtala Muhammed’s orderly in Nasarawa

Mikail Abdulraheem, Chairman of the Military Pensions Board (MPB), on Monday, paid a courtesy visit to Michael Etuwe, the former orderly to Murtala Muhammed, Nigeria’s late Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces  in Masaka, Nasarawa State.

The visit was aimed at recognising distinguished military service and honouring veterans whose dedication and sacrifices played critical roles in the defence, unity and stability of the nation.

In a statement issued to journalists, Aliyu Mohammed, Public Relations Officer of the Military Pensions Board, said Etuwe served closely with  Murtala Muhammed during a defining period in Nigeria’s history.

According to him, Etuwe was on official duty as an orderly to the late Head of State and was inside the official vehicle on February 13, 1976, when Muhammed was assassinated in Lagos.

“His service places him among the living witnesses to one of the most significant and defining moments in Nigeria’s national history,” Mohammed said, describing Etuwe’s experience as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces in the line of duty.

The visit was attended by representatives of various veterans’ associations, alongside members of the Ministerial Committee on Veterans’ Welfare.

The stakeholders commended the MPB Chairman for his leadership and sustained commitment to veterans’ affairs, describing the engagement as timely and reassuring for the retired military community.

In his remarks, Etuwe, fondly addressed as Pa Etuwe, expressed deep appreciation for the visit, describing it as a rare and meaningful honour.

He thanked the Chairman of the Military Pensions Board and members of the veterans’ community for the recognition and show of solidarity, noting that the gesture reaffirmed the value placed on the sacrifices of retired servicemen and women.

Abdulraheem, in his response, reaffirmed the Military Pensions Board’s commitment to the welfare, dignity and continued engagement of military veterans.

He stressed that the sacrifices of Nigeria’s Armed Forces personnel remain an enduring pillar of national peace, unity and development.

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