The burial of the seven Nigerian Air Force men that died in last Sunday’s Beechcraft King Air B359i crash took place today at the National Cemetery, Lugbe, Airport Road, Abuja.
The names of the victims, who are being buried today, are Flight Lt Haruna Gadzama, Flight Lt. Henry Piyo, Flying Officer Michael Okpara, Warrant Officer Basset Etim, Flight Sgt. Olasunkanmi Olawunmi, Sgt Ugochukwu Oluka and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson. Dignitaries at the ceremony include Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd); Minister of Women Affairs, Paulen Tallen among others. The service chiefs are also in attendance: Chief of Defence Staff, Maj Gen LEO Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Major Gen Ibrahim Attahitu; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral AZ Gambo and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao.
Late Flight Lieutenant Chiroma Haruna Gadzama, the pilot of the crashed plane, was born in January 11, 1990 in Kaduna. He hailed from Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. He was enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force as a member od Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 62 ON 14 August 2010 and commissioned pilot on 14 August 2020. Until his death, he was serving as a Squadron Pilot at 307 Executive Airlift Group, Abuja. He was not married.
Flight Lieutenant Piyo Henry Piyo was born on 11 May 1991 in Jos. He hailed from Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State. He was enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 62 on 14 August 2010 and commissioned Pilot on 12 September 2015. Until his death, he was serving as a Squadron Pilot at the 307 Executive Airlift Group Abuja. He was single.
Flying Officer Micheal Ifeanyi Okpara was born on 11 September 1995 at Takum in Taraba State. He hailed from Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. He was enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 65 on 21 September 2013 and commissioned Pilot Officer on 13 October 2018. He was married with two children
Warrant Officer Bassey Asuquo Etim, was born on 24 December 1973 in Kaduna. He hailed from Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State. He was enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force on 15 July 1996.
Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Ojo Olawunmi was born on 30 March 1983. He hailed from Ekiti South Local Government Area of Ekiti State. He was enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force on 1 March 2002.
Aircraftman Adewale Stephen Johnson was born on 9June 1996. He hailed from Ibadan South East Local Government Area of Oyo State. He was enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force on 5 August 2
