By Lengnan Tobias
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has visited 107 Air Maritime Group (AMG), Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, Benin, the home unit of the ill-fated NAF ATR 42 aircraft.
The NAF ATR 42 aircraft, crashed on Monday in Igbokoda, Ondo State, killing 32 crew and passengers on board.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Ejodame said Aneke met with personnel and reassured families of those affected by the recent crash of the service continued support during the difficult period.
The CAS, while addressing personnel of the unit, expressed profound condolences over the loss of their colleagues, describing the deceased as dedicated patriots who served the nation with honour and commitment.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of our fallen colleagues. They made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our nation, and we will not forget them or the contributions they made to the Nigerian Air Force,” he said.
Aneke assured the families that the NAF would continue to stand by them, providing the necessary emotional, administrative and institutional support.
He also acknowledged the provision of scholarship awards for the children of the deceased personnel, noting that the welfare of the families remained a priority.
“We will continue to do everything within our capacity to support the families and ensure that the children of our fallen comrades are not left without support.
“Their welfare is our responsibility, and we will remain committed to it,” he said.
Speaking on the recovery and strengthening of 107 AMG, the CAS assured personnel that the service would take necessary measures to enhance welfare, sustain training and facilitate the availability of operational platforms.
According to him, we will support this unit to quickly regain its strength.
“That support will include welfare, training and the availability of the platforms required for you to continue performing your duties effectively.
“We expect you to remain focused, professional and resilient.”
He commended the personnel of the unit for their professionalism, resilience and unwavering dedication in the face of adversity, urging them to remain steadfast as ongoing search, recovery and investigative efforts continue.
Aneke also expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies for their invaluable support in the search and recovery operations.
He noted that the collaboration underscored the importance of jointness and inter-service cooperation in responding to national challenges.
He reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to its personnel and their families, assuring all those affected that the service would continue to provide the necessary support while pursuing a thorough and professional investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Also speaking, the Commander, 107 AMG, Air Commodore Eze Onu, appreciated the CAS for visiting the unit at such a difficult time and for the reassurance and support provided to personnel and the families of the fallen.
“Your presence here has strengthened the morale of our personnel. We appreciate your leadership, concern and commitment to the welfare of our people.
“We remain resolute and committed to our responsibilities, in spite of the challenges we are currently facing,” Onu said.
He assured the CAS that personnel of the unit would remain dedicated to duty and continue to uphold the traditions and professional standards of the NAF.(NAN)
Edited by Deborah Coker
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