Friends, colleagues mourn Air Force officer Chiroma Gadzama, one of seven victims of crashed Abuja military aircraft
Friends, colleagues and ex-students of Air Force Secondary School, Kaduna are mourning the death of Flight Lieutenant Haruna Gadzama, one of the seven Air Force personnel killed in the military aircraft crash in Abuja on Sunday.
Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigeria Air Force, confirmed the crash in a Twitter statement on Sunday and said all seven personnel on board died in the crash.
Daramola said the NAF Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft (a surveillance aircraft) crashed while returning to the Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure enroute Minna, the capital of Niger state where 42 people including students and staff of Government Science Secondary School, Kagara, were kidnapped on Wednesday February 17, 2021.
The cause of the plane crash is not immediately clear and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) told newsmen that it cannot investigate a military aircraft.
Daramola said the Chief of Air Staff has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.
One of the victims has now been identified as Flight Lieutenant Ciroma Haruna Gadzama, an alumna of Air Force Secondary School, Kaduna.
Gadzama was one of the 14 newly-graduated pilots of the Nigerian Air Force decorated with their “Wings” in April 2018 after completion of their flight training in Nigeria and South Africa.
Some of his friends, family and former schoolmates who are still in disbelief have taken to social media to mourn his death.
His alma mater’s alumni association – Ex-Junior Pilot Association, in a tweet announcing Gadzama’s death wrote: “We are saddened by the tragic death of Flt Lt CH Gadzama of 07 Set of Air Force Secondary School Kaduna on the Sunday 21st of February 2021.”
The association described him as a jovial and hardworking Officer of the Nigerian Airforce.
“Our condolence in the loss of our member, many of us knew him personally and his personal traits were well loved, he will be missed,” the association tweeted.
Majeed Agboola tweeted: “Gadz was so hyped about my birthday than anyone. What a Man.”
A Twitter user who also described Gadzama as a generous and jovial man wrote “we lost a rare gem today. This is indeed a great loss to all of us, a generous and jovial man he was.”
Hakeem Adesanya who said Gadzama’s generosity will never be in vain wrote “God will reward you, Gadzama, as you still remain magnanimous in death. Your generosity will never be in vain. I sympathize with the family and pray God to fortify wife and kids with strength to bear this sudden huge loss.”
Another Twitter user who claimed to be a relative of the late officer tweeted: “I lost an elder brother in the Beechcraft crash. Flt Lt CH Gadzama (Wamdeo) may their souls rest in Peace… Please Pray for them.”
His younger sister, Blessing Gadzama, who is also in shock over Gadzama’s death, has taken to Instagram to mourn him.
