Buhari commiserates with families of ill-fated Donnier-228 victim

President Muhammad Buhari has commiserated with the families of the ill-fated Donnier-228 which crashed in Kaduna on Saturday.

President spoke through the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Aliyu Ismaila who was also the head of Federal Government delegation to the crash site and the families of the victims.

A statement from the Nigerian Defence Headquarters last night said President described the incident as colossal loss not only to the family but to the Nigerian nation as a whole.

He extended his condolences on behalf of the Federal Government and Nigerians over the unfortunate loss of the officers and men whom he described as gentlemen and intelligent personnel whose loss could not be quantified especially now that their services are much needed.

The President prayed for the repose of their souls and also prayed Almighty God to grant the families the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.

In the statement, Rabe Abubakar, Colonel and Acting Director, Defence said also that the chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin who was also in the Presidential entourage, consoled the families on behalf of the Armed Forces and described the late officers as fine, loyal and patriotic gentlemen who died gallantly while serving their fatherland.

“Though you are gone, but your memories will be with us for a very long time to come”, he said.

On Saturday, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Dornier-228 aircraft, with call sign NAF030 crashed into a house at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna shortly after take-off.

During the Presidential condolence visit,  a 1 minute silence was obserbed in honour of the departed colleagues and the individual families of the victims were also visited.

The entourage comprised General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Maj Gen Adeniyi Oyebade, Air Officer Commanding, Training Command, Kaduna, AVM Alkali Mamu, Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, Maj Gen MT Ibrahim, Chief of Defence Communications, Defence Headquarters and other senior officers on the entourage of the head of Federal Government delegation.

Meanwhile an investigation panel headed by an Air Vice Marshal to unravel the cause of the accident has been constituted and has commenced sitting.

Onyinye Nwachukwu