CAS Wept, As NAF Buried 7 Personnel
By Lazarus Zakaa, Abuja
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Oladayo Amao on Thursday, broke down in tears while making his presentation, at the burial of the seven Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel, who died on Sunday in an air accident in Abuja.
The burial of the seven personnel killed in an air crash is coming upon his appointment as the CAS and a few days after his screening for confirmation by the National Assembly.
The deceased officers were laid to rest at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja with full military honours.
Those buried were: Flight Lieutenant Haruna Gadzama (Captain), Flight Lieutenant Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot), Flying Officer Michael Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System (ATOS) Specialist), Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist), Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist), Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).
At the ceremony, representatives of the deceased families were presented with the national colours by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao.
It also witnessed the laying of the wreath as well as firing of a volley by the burial party.
The Chief of Air Staff could not hold back his emotions as he wept while making his presentation at the burial ceremony.
AVM Amao, who got emotional, broke down several times weeping while reading his speech at the ceremony, where he described the deceased as some of the finest officers in the service and prayed to God to console their immediate families.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Women Affairs Minister, Dame Pauline Tallen; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; the service chiefs, serving and retired top military officers, Senate and House Committees Chairmen on NAF, were among those in attendance at the ceremony.
