— Aneke pledges welfare, scholarships, operational support
By Kingsley Omonobi
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has reassured personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and families of those killed in the recent ATR 42 aircraft crash of the Service’s continued support.
Aneke gave the assurance on Thursday, October 8, 2026, during a visit to 107 Air Maritime Group (AMG), NAF Base Benin City, the home unit of the ill-fated aircraft.
Addressing personnel, the Air Chief expressed condolences over the loss of their colleagues, describing the deceased 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,” he said.
He assured the bereaved families that the NAF would continue to provide the necessary emotional, administrative and institutional support during the difficult period.
Aneke also acknowledged the provision of scholarship awards for the children of the deceased personnel, stressing that the welfare of the families remained a priority.
“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 stated.
On efforts to strengthen 107 AMG, the Air Chief said the Service would take necessary measures to improve personnel welfare, sustain training and ensure 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,” he said.
Responding, the Commander of 107 AMG, Air Commodore Onu, thanked Aneke for visiting the unit and reassuring personnel and the families of the deceased.
“Sir, your presence here has strengthened the morale of our personnel. We appreciate your leadership, concern and commitment to the welfare of our people,” he said.
Onu reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to its responsibilities despite the challenges arising from the crash, pledging that its personnel would continue to uphold the traditions and professional standards of the NAF.
The Air Chief 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 support during the search and recovery operations, noting that the collaboration highlighted the importance of joint operations and inter-service cooperation in responding to national challenges.
Aneke reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to supporting affected personnel and their families while pursuing a thorough and professional investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The post NAF Air chief assures crash victims’ families of continued support appeared first on Vanguard News.