The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has assured families of the deceased crew members of the ill-fated MI-171E helicopter that crashed in Niger State last week, that the Service would never abandon them.
The CAS made the pledge in Port Harcourt while on a visit to commiserate with the families of the deceased crew members of the ill-fated MI-171E helicopter.
In a statement by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Cdre Edward Gabkwet, the CAS, while condoling the families for the painful loss, stated that it was a major setback for the NAF, which would take the Service some time to get over.
He assured the families that the NAF would, however, never abandon them but would always stand by them till the end.
“The NAF will always stand with you and support you till the end,” he said.
He also assured them that their sacrifices would not be in vain as the NAF family, as well as all Nigerians, would forever remember them for giving their lives for the survival of the nation.
The statement identified the deceased crew members as; Flight Lieutenant Adamu Ibrahim, Flight Lieutenant Anthony Duryumus, Lance Corporal Alaribe Daniel and Lance Corporal Briggs Stephen Peter.
The statement further revealed that two NAF Regiment personnel, Corporal Jauro Amos and Lance Corporal Abdulrahman Abubakar, also lost their lives during the recent ambush on Nigerian troops by terrorists in Niger State.
Air Marshal Abubakar also used the opportunity of the visit to interact with the officers and personnel of the unit of the crew.
The CAS also expressed his condolence to the Unit and appreciated them for their commitment and efforts in the ongoing joint military operations in the Niger Delta.
He also assured that the sacrifices of the fallen heroes would not be in vain and that the Nigerian Air Force would do everything possible to forestall such occurrences in the future.
Recall that a NAF MI-171E helicopter on casualty evacuation mission crashed in Niger State on August 14, 2023, killing the entire occupants and four NAF crew members on board.
