Photo of injured Nigerian soldier paying homage to army chief on sickbed excites Internet

Picture of a Nigerian soldier showing respect to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, while on his sickbed is warming hearts on social media.

The injured trooper was captured paying respect, even in distress, when Yahaya visited wounded forces at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna on Thursday.

If he were to be on his feet, he was expected to stand at attention before his superior officer. But he was laid out on a hospital bed with bandaged legs and apparently in pains. Notwithstanding, the soldier froze in attention the moment the army chief moved to his bed to greet him.

Many believe the picture depicts the huge respect military personnel accord their superiors.

In his remarks, the COAS thanked the officers and men for their sacrifice to the nation and assured them that the Army would adequately take care of them.

Yahaya disclosed that all arrangements had been concluded for personnel that require medical treatment abroad. Those who require plastic surgery, prosthetics, among others would be flown out of Nigeria, he promised.

The Army chief announced plans to build a state-of-the-art facility in the hospital for the production of prosthetics. The General said efforts on this had been heightened in partnership with some foreign experts from Germany.

The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Colonel Steven Onuchukwu, led Yahaya round the wards.