BY EDMOND ODOK – Uncontrollable tears choked the atmosphere on Thursday as family members, relatives, colleagues, friends and sympathisers bid painful goodbyes to the seven Nigerian Air Force (NAF) officers who died in the Beechchraft King Air B3350i crash on Sunday, February 22, 2021.
It was quite a distressing and grief-stricken sight at National Military Cemetery in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as many gnashed their teeth, shed endless tears and rolled unrestrained on the floor in mournful farewell to the departed.
Flight Lt. Haruna Gadzama, who fought in vain to avoid crashing the ill-fated plane immediately after take-off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and six others on board were finally laid to rest at the National Military Cemetery in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Among the crash victims are: Flight Lt. Henry Piyo – (Co-Pilot); Flying Officer Michael Okpara – (Airborne Tactical Observation System [ATOS] Specialist); and Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist). Others include: Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi – (ATOS Specialist), Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka – (ATOS Specialist), and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson – (Onboard Technician).
Bodies of the deceased officers were lowered into the grave at about 1p.m with full military honours and the traditional 21-gunshot salute.
At the graveside during the interment, emotions ran high among the late officers’ colleagues, including the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice-Marshal Oladayo Amao, their wives, family members and friends.
Dignitaries at the funeral service included Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Minister of Defence, Maj-General Salihi Magashi (rtd); Chief of Defence Staff, Maj-General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Maj-General Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal Isiaka Amao, family members, friends and members of the National Assembly.
Air Vice-Marshal Amao described the departed as courageous officers and heroes that NAF fully trusted, assuring that their dead would not be in vain.
According to him; “The loss of these confident, courageous and professional young officers and airmen must spur the rest of us not only to rededicate ourselves to the service of our nation, but also to resolve that we shall relentlessly expose and fight all agents of destabilisation and extremism in our society.
“We must throw everything that we have into this fight to ensure that our departed colleagues did not die in vain.
“The untimely death of these very promising gentlemen occurred on Sunday, February 21, 2021 in Abuja while they were on active duty in the service to our fatherland. I must confess that, even at this moment, the NAF is still in palpable shock, grieving very deeply upon this loss of our gallant and courageous heroes in whom we had so much confidence, with our expectations now suddenly and painfully cut short.
“We salute the supreme sacrifice of these young men, whose lot it became to give their lives in the defence of the peace, which we all enjoy and often take for granted.”
The Air Force Chief further stated thus; “These intelligent and disciplined young officers and airmen flew their quota of ongoing surveillance missions in the Northeast, Northwest and, more recently, in the North Central over Niger State and its environs in connection with the concerted efforts to secure the release of the workers and students abducted from the Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State.
“As we resolve to rededicate ourselves to the cause of defending our great nation, let me at this juncture restate our profound commitment and unalloyed loyalty to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, as he continues to lead the nation’s collective effort at tackling the challenges bedevilling our national security.
“In addition to honouring the sacrifice and memory of our fallen comrades, this moment offers us all an opportunity for sober reflections as we pray for the eternal repose of the gentle souls of our departed heroes. Their death is a huge loss to the Nigerian Air Force family and indeed the entire nation. They will be greatly missed but fondly remembered for their invaluable services to the nation and humanity.”
A visibly shaken Vice Marshal Amao further said in his written address that; “Today, as our late colleagues go to their final resting place, may the Lord be with them forever and may they rest assured that the Nigerian Air Force and indeed the nation will remain ever grateful to them for their service and sacrifice.
“To the families of our deceased brothers, our prayers are with you at this time, as also those of people from everywhere, both within and outside the country. The overwhelming show of love, solidarity and support from everyone is a clear indication that the nation, and indeed the entire globe, shares in this grief with you.
“This was evident in the volume of condolence messages and visits from a wide range of personalities, including the President, Commander-in-Chief, leadership of the National Assembly, governors, ministers, members of the Diplomatic Corps as well as many other prominent Nigerians.
“I, therefore, encourage you to be consoled by the knowledge that the entire nation grieves with you on the loss of these shining, amiable and patriotic Nigerians who have laid down their lives in the service of their fatherland.”
In his funeral homily, Presiding priest and Director of NAF Chaplaincy, Reverend David Dogo Gani, described the officers’ death as a trying moment in Nigeria’s history, praying that the country find grace to always depend God as its source of comfort in troubled times.
