NAF Chief Visits Benin Air Base, Assures Families of Crash Victims of Continued Support
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has assured families of personnel who died in the recent Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR 42 aircraft accident of the Service’s continued support, including welfare assistance and scholarship opportunities for their children.
Aneke gave the assurance on October 8, 2026, during a visit to the 107 Air Maritime Group (AMG) at the NAF Base in Benin City, the home unit of the ill-fated aircraft.
During the visit, the Air Chief met with personnel of the unit, expressed condolences over the loss of their colleagues and reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to supporting the affected families through the difficult period.
He 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.
The CAS said the NAF would continue to provide emotional, administrative and institutional support to the bereaved families, adding that the welfare of their children remained a priority.
He acknowledged the provision of scholarship awards for the children of the deceased personnel and assured the families that the Service would continue to support their welfare and educational needs.
“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.
Aneke also assured personnel of 107 AMG that the NAF would take necessary measures to strengthen the unit through improved welfare, sustained training and the provision of operational platforms.
He urged the personnel to remain focused, professional and resilient as the Service works towards restoring the unit’s operational capacity.
Responding, the Commander of 107 AMG, Air Commodore Onu, thanked the CAS for visiting the unit and reassuring personnel and the families of the fallen officers.
He said the visit had boosted morale and reaffirmed the personnel’s commitment to their duties despite the challenges facing the unit.
Aneke commended the personnel for their professionalism, resilience and dedication, urging them to remain steadfast as search, recovery and investigative efforts continued.
The Air Chief also appreciated the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies for their support in the search and recovery operations, noting that the collaboration demonstrated the importance of inter-service cooperation in responding to national challenges.
He reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to supporting affected personnel and their families while ensuring that a thorough and professional investigation into the circumstances surrounding the aircraft accident was pursued.
Ehimen Ejodame Air Commodore Director of Public Relations and Information Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force October 9, 2026.
NAF Chief Visits Benin Air Base, Assures Families of Crash Victims of Continued Support