Otti mourns Abia-born pilot who died 16 days after wedding

UMUAHIA — Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has mourned Squadron Leader Ahamefule Aham Man-Ugwueje, the Abia-born co-pilot who died alongside 24 other Nigerian Air Force personnel in the aircraft crash at Igbokoda, Ondo State.

Man-Ugwueje, who hailed from Umuahia, died barely 16 days after he married a fellow Nigerian Air Force officer, Flight Lieutenant Damilola Adekunle, in Abuja.

The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, NAF 931, crashed on October 5 while on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos, killing all 25 people on board, including five crew members.

Otti, in a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, described the crash as painful and devastating, saying it had brought “untold sorrow and anguish” to the victims’ families, friends and loved ones, the Nigerian Air Force and the nation.

“This accident is both painful and devastating, because it has brought untold sorrow and anguish to the victims’ families, their friends and loved ones, the Nigerian Air Force, and the nation at large,” the governor said.

The governor particularly lamented the death of Man-Ugwueje, whose military aviation career was cut short barely two weeks after he exchanged marital vows with his colleague.

The couple were married in Abuja on September 19 in a ceremony attended by family members, friends and military colleagues.

Man-Ugwueje was reportedly from a military family, with his father said to be a retired Group Captain of the Nigerian Air Force, while his wife also serves in the force.

Otti, on behalf of his family, the Abia State Government and the people of the state, condoled with the bereaved families, the people of Umuahia, the Nigerian Air Force and the Federal Government.

He prayed for the peaceful repose of the victims and for God to grant their families the strength and comfort to bear the loss.

The Nigerian Air Force has described the crash as a major tragedy and ordered a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Man-Ugwueje was among the officers serving as crew aboard NAF 931, whose final flight ended in tragedy in the swampy area of Igbokoda, in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.