Aviation Nigeria
The Nigerian Air Force has named Sqn. Ldr. Benjamin Ado and Flying Officer Ayuba Layelmenson as the two pilots who died in the aircraft in Niamey.
Both men were part of the Air Force contingent in the African-led International Support Mission in Mali stationed in Niamey, Niger Republic.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Commodore Yusuf Anas, the Director, Air Force Information and Public Relations.
Ado who hails from Konshisha Local Government Area in Benue state, was a member of the 50th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy and an instructor pilot who had flown many aircraft types in the inventory of NAF, as well as Pakistan and the United States of America. He was married with one child.
The statement also noted that Layelmenson hailed from Azare in Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe State and was a member of the 57th Regular Course in the Defence Academy.
He graduated from Hellenic Air Force Academy in July 2011 and was commissioned into the Air Force as a pilot officer.
Until his death, he was a qualified squadron pilot in the Alpha Jet before the unfortunate incident and was survived by his parents.
The release also stated that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, had paid a condolence visit to the families of the deceased officers in Kaduna and Kanji.
According to the statement, Badeh said: “I have come on behalf of the entire Air Force and a grateful nation to condole you on the tragic loss of your loved ones. May their souls rest in perfect peace.’’
Badeh also used the visit to interact with officers of the 99 Air Combat Training Group and urged them to remain steadfast in their duties.
