The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar has assured families of the crew members of the ill-fated MI-171E helicopter 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 that crashed in Niger State on 14 August 2023.
In a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Cadre Edward Gabkwet, the CAS while condoling the families for the painful loss stated that it was a major setback for the Nigeria Air Force (NAF), which would take the service some time to get over.
He assured the families that the NAF would 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 ambush on Nigerian Army personnel recently 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 these fallen heroes would not be in vain and that the NAF would do everything possible to forestall such occurrences in the future.
Earlier, a NAF MI-171E Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed in Niger State on 14 August 2023, killing the entire passengers and four NAF crew members on board.
