NewsTears Flow In Abuja As Nigeria Buries 7 Air Force Officers With...

Tears Flow In Abuja As Nigeria Buries 7 Air Force Officers With Full Honours

BEVERLY HILLS, February 25, (THEWILL) – Victims of Air Force Plane Crash Buried In AbujaThe Nigerian Air Force has buried seven officers who died on Sunday in the Beechcraft King Air B350i crash at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Buried today in coffins initially draped in the country’s flags were: Flight Lieutenant Haruna Gadzama (Captain), Flight Lieutenant Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot), Flying Officer Michael Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System (ATOS) Specialist), Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist), Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist), Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).

Palpable sorrow filled the air and several family, friends and colleagues let the tears flow as the officers were laid to rest with full honours at the National Military Cemetery, Karmajigi, Airport Road, Abuja.

The Chief of Air Staff, CAS, AVM Oladayo Amao, said they paid the supreme price serving their country.

He said: “I stand here today bearing my personal grief as well as the entire NAF and the country as we lay to rest the remains of our fallen colleagues while in active duty to the service of their fatherland.

“I must confess that even at this moment, NAF is still in palpable shock and grieving very deeply upon this loss of our gallant and courageous heroes.”

According to him, the unfortunate airmen died during concerted efforts to secure the release of the 27 staff and students abducted from the Government Science College, Kagara, Niger.

He submitted that the deaths should spur Nigerian citizens to wage concerted war against crimes and criminals.

Amao said: “We must throw everything that we have into this fight to ensure that our departed colleagues did not die in vain.

“Their death is a huge loss to NAF family and indeed the entire nation.

“They will be greatly missed but fondly remembered for their invaluable services to the nation and humanity.”

He went on to assure the bereaved families of support from the Air Force.

Earlier, the Director, NAF Chaplaincy Protestants, Group Capt. Dogo Gani, prayed for the departed souls and fallen heroes to rest in peace.

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