•NSAF releases names of victims
•Army chief directs rejuvenation of troops’ fighting spirit
Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, yesterday, visited Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, to commiserate with the families of the deceased crew members of the ill-fated MI-171E Helicopter that crashed in Niger State last week.
Also, the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters has formally released the names of the deceased personnel, who died in the air crash during an evacuation mission.
In another development, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, has directed army commanders at all levels to redirect efforts at rejuvenating troops’ fighting spirit.
A statement signed by spokesman of NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the air force chief while condoling the families over the painful loss, stated that the tragedy was a major setback for the NAF, which would take the service some time to get over it.
The deceased crew members included Flight Lieutenant Adamu Ibrahim, Flight Lieutenant Anthony Duryumus, Lance Corporal Alaribe Daniel and Lance Corporal Briggs Stephen Peter.
Others were two NAF Regiment personnel, Corporal Jauro Amos and Lance Corporal Abdulrahman Abubakar, who were ambushed and killed by terrorists in Shiroro, Niger State.
Assuring Nigerian that NAF would never abandon families of the deceased but will always stand by them, he said “The NAF will always stand with you and support you till the end.”
He also assured them that the sacrifices of the fallen heroes would not be in vain as the NAF family as well as all Nigerians, would forever remember them for giving their lives for the survival of the nation.
Abubakar also used the opportunity of the visit to interact with the officers and personnel of the unit, during which he expressed his condolence to the unit and appreciated them for their commitment and efforts in the ongoing joint military operations in the Niger Delta region.
He further assured them that the sacrifices of the departed personnel would not be in vain and that the Nigerian Air Force would do everything possible to forestall such occurrences in the future.
Meanwhile, the COAS gave the directive in Port Harcourt while declaring open a seminar organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Transformation and Innovation.
The seminar themed: “Intensifying Warrior Ethos, Regimentation in the Nigerian Army, Management of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Drugs and Substance Abuse” was held at the Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya Indoor Badminton Court, Port Harcourt Barracks.
Lagbaja, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division Nigerian Army/Land Component Commander Joint Task Force (South South) Operation Delta Safe, Maj Gen Jamal Abdussalam, affirmed that “the Nigerian Army would continue to review its tactics, techniques and procedures to come up with implementable strategies to defeat all adversaries at this critical period of the Nation’s history.”
He charged commanders to come up with thorough innovative thinking, ways to rekindle warrior spirit, premised on his command philosophy which is “to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibility within a joint environment.”
The army chief commended the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation for the conduct of the seminar even as he expressed hope that the seminar would compliment other efforts geared towards the rejuvenation of the tenets of basic soldiering with adherence to traditions, customs and ethics of the Nigerian Army.
A statement by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division Nigerian Army, Lt Col Iweha Ikedichi, said the Army Headquarters Department of Transformation and Innovation seminar had in attendance the Chief of Army Transformation and Innovation, Major General ZL Abubakar, the Director Transformation, Brigadier General UC Obi Osang, Commanders of 6 Division affiliated formations/units and participants drawn from all formations in 6 Division Nigerian Army.
