By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has assured families of personnel who died in the recent Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR 42 aircraft accident of sustained welfare, emotional and institutional support, reaffirming the Service’s commitment to their wellbeing.
Aneke gave the assurance on 8 October 2026 during a visit to the 107 Air Maritime Group (AMG), NAF Base Benin City, the home unit of the ill-fated aircraft, where he met with personnel and commiserated with them over the loss of their colleagues.
According to an official statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the CAS described the deceased personnel 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,” Aneke said.
He assured the bereaved families that the NAF would continue to stand by them, providing the necessary emotional, administrative and institutional assistance during the difficult period.
The Air Chief also acknowledged the provision of scholarship awards for the children of the deceased personnel, stressing that their welfare remained a priority for the Service.
“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.
Beyond support for the affected families, Aneke pledged measures to strengthen 107 AMG and restore its operational capacity through improved personnel welfare, sustained training and the availability of operational platforms.
“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,” the CAS stated.
In his response, the Commander of 107 AMG, Air Commodore Onu, expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as a morale booster for personnel at a difficult time.
He reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to its responsibilities and professional standards, despite the challenges arising from the accident.
Aneke commended the personnel for their professionalism, resilience and dedication, urging them to remain steadfast as search, recovery and investigative efforts continued.
He also appreciated the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies for their contributions to the search and recovery operations, noting that their collaboration demonstrated the importance of joint operations and inter-Service cooperation in responding to national challenges.
The CAS reiterated the NAF’s commitment to the affected families and personnel of 107 AMG, assuring them that the Service would continue to provide the necessary support while pursuing a thorough and professional investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
