The Pigeons released by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Friday on the occasion of the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day refused to fly, eliciting mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media.

The Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD), is a public holiday in Nigeria observed on 15 January every year to commemorate the servicemen of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It also honors veterans of the World War I and II as well as the Nigerian Civil War.

It is customary during the event for the President to release some Pigeons into the air as a symbol of peace. However, the Pigeons released by President Buhari during the 2021 event refused to fly.

As seen in the video of the event which has gone viral on the internet, the President gave them another push after opening their cage and they refused to fly but the birds just won’t be bothered.

This has attracted lots of reactions from Nigerians who have taken to the micro-blogging site, Twitter to share their views on what transpired at the event which held at the National Arcade, Eagle Square in Abuja.

The event also had in attendance the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad as well as members of the diplomatic corps.

Watch the video and see some of the reactions from Nigerians on Twitter: