Seven Nigerian Air Force officers who died in a plane crash last Sunday will be buried at National Cemetery, Lugbe, Airport Road in Abuja, on Thursday, February 25, it has emerged.
NAF disclosed this on Wednesday, February 24 in an invitation to the event sent to journalists.
It would be recalled that the aircraft, Beechcraft King Air B350i crashed close to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after reporting engine failure, killing all seven officers onboard.
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The deceased include Captain of the plane, Fl. Lt. Haruna Gadzama; Fl. Lt. Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot); Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System Specialist); Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist); Fl. Sgt. Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist); Sgt. Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).
The tragic incident threw the nation into a state of mourning while Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao, ordered an investigation into the mishap.
The CAS said the deceased personnel, had been in Minna, Niger State, for days conducting Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions in connection with the efforts to secure the release of the 42 students and staff abducted from Government Science College Kagara, Niger State.
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Amao spoke further about the crew while receiving Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, who paid a condolence visit to the Nigerian Air Force headquarters on Monday.
He said the aircraft had carried out several Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions in virtually all theatres, including the North-East, North-West as well as the North-Central.
Amao stated that he was saddened by the tragic incident and sent his condolences to the families of the victims.
Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, visited Ado Ekiti residence of one of the victims, Fl. Sgt. Olasunkanmi Olawunmi on Tuesday to commiserate with his family.
The widow, Mrs Omolola, recalled the last time she spoke with her husband, saying;
When I got home on Sunday, I called him that ‘dear, we have returned from church,’ he said ‘we are taking off now, I would call you back when we land.’ I am still waiting for that call.
Fayemi, who consoled the widow, led the prayer for protection for the family of late Olawunmi, partly saying;
We do not want this, we did not pray for this, it is not our desire, it is not our expectation. If this is your wish Lord, we can only pray that you give your children the courage, the fortitude to bear this unfortunate development.
May their souls rest in peace.
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