The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday buried the remains of five crew members, who died in the NAF Mi-35M Helicopter that crashed in combat on January 2 in Borno State.<\/p>\n
The helicopter crashed while providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion in Damasak, Borno.<\/p>\n
The late crew members are: Flight Lieutenant Perowei Jacob \u2013 Pilot in Command, Flight Lt- Kaltho Paul Kilyofas \u2013 Co-Pilot, Sgt. Auwal Ibrahim \u2013 Flight Technician, Lance Corporal Adamu Nura \u2013 Gunner, and Aircraftman Meshack Ishmael \u2013 Gunner.<\/p>\n
The News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) reports that the remains of the officers were laid to rest at 11:20am at the National Military Cemetery Abuja, with full military honours, amidst wails and tears by family members, wives, relatives and sympathisers.<\/p>\n
Wreaths were also laid by the Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali and the wives of some of the officers.<\/p>\n
The air chief also presented the national colours to the families of the deceased crew members.<\/p>\n
NAN also reports that the burial ceremony was attended by representatives of the Service Chiefs, among other dignitaries.<\/p>\n
The late officers were honoured with 21 gun salute (Firing of Volley) as well as the Last Post.<\/p>\n
Mr Abubakar, an air marshal, in his remarks at the internment ceremony said that the late officers died for the peace and unity of Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese gallant heroes lost their lives in the pursuit of the peace which we all enjoy and often take for granted. We salute the courage of these young men, whose lot it became to give their lives for this purpose.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe loss of these courageous and professional gentlemen must spur the rest of us not only to rededicate ourselves in the service of our Nation, but also to expose and fight all agents of destabilization and extremism in our society.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must throw in everything we have to this fight to ensure that our departed colleagues did not die in vain.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must do everything possible to bring the ongoing insurgency in the North East to a speedy end that is favourable to our nation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am indeed deeply touched and saddened by the price which our patriots had to pay in this needless fight against insurgency.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur departed heroes fought that we live in a safe and secure Nigeria where the freedom of worship and association of one and all are guaranteed under one indivisible nation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He consoled with the families of the deceased, noting that \u201cI know Nigerians everywhere join me in praying for you as you shoulder this heavy burden of grief.<\/p>\n
\u201cMay time ease the soaring pain of today and please note that the entire nation shares this grief with you.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere can be no better consolation than the knowledge that the nation grieves with you on the loss of these amiable and patriotic Nigerians, who paid the supreme price in the course of their duty to the fatherland,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday buried the remains of five crew members, who died in the NAF Mi-35M Helicopter that crashed in combat on January 2 in Borno State. The helicopter crashed while providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion in Damasak, Borno. The late crew members are: Flight Lieutenant Perowei […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":2045,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,30],"tags":[276,274,275],"class_list":["post-2043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-community","tag-air-crash","tag-burial","tag-victims"],"yoast_head":"\n