President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo on Thursday led other top government officials and service chiefs to lay wreaths in honour of soldiers who died during service in Nigeria and in international assignments.

January 15th every year is dedicated to remembrance of Nigerian military men who died in service to the nation and their surviving colleagues who have retired from active service.

The leaders laid wreaths at the National Arcade in the Three Arms Zone in Abuja, one month after the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem and Appeal Fund was launched by the President.

The brief ceremony started at 10.00am after President Jonathan arrived the National Arcade and inspected the guard of honour.

Muslim and Christian officers prayed for the departed souls and the nation.

The President laid the wreath after a-minute silence in honour of the dead.

Vice President Sambo, Senate President David Mark, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mahmud Mohammed and Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau were among top government officials who also laid wreaths.

Others were – the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Bala Mohammed; Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh,and the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba.

A 21-gun salute preceded the wreath-laying ceremony.

President Jonathan led the dignitaries to release white pigeons at the arcade.