By Milcah Tanimu

Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), extended his sympathies to the families of the crew members who tragically lost their lives in the MI-171E Helicopter crash in Niger on August 14. In a statement released by Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), it was announced that Air Marshal Abubakar visited the families of the deceased crew members in Port Harcourt, Rivers.

During the visit, Air Marshal Abubakar expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families, acknowledging the profound loss suffered by both the NAF and the nation. He assured the families that the NAF would stand beside them through this difficult time and would not abandon them.

He also reassured the families that the sacrifices made by their loved ones would not be in vain. He emphasized that both the NAF and all Nigerians would forever remember and honor these brave individuals for giving their lives to protect the nation.

Air Marshal Abubakar affirmed, “The NAF will always stand with you and support you till the end.”

Additionally, in a separate interaction, the CAS commended the dedication and efforts of the officers and personnel of the NAF unit involved in ongoing joint-military operations in the Niger Delta. He assured them that the sacrifices made by their fallen colleagues would not be forgotten and that the NAF would take all necessary measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

The MI-171E Helicopter crashed while on a casualty evacuation mission in Niger, resulting in the loss of all passengers and four NAF crew members on board. The crew members who tragically lost their lives in the crash were identified as Flt.-Lt. Adamu Ibrahim, Flt.-Lt. Anthony Duryumus, Lance Cpl Alaribe Daniel, and Lance Cpl Briggs Stephen Peter.

The statement also mentioned that two NAF Regiment personnel, Cpl Jauro Amos and Lance Cpl Abdulrahman Abubakar, were among the Nigerian Army personnel who recently lost their lives in an ambush by terrorists in Niger State.