Ondo Crash: Shettima Mourns 32 Air Force Personnel, Says Nigeria Must Remember Their Sacrifice

Vice President Kashim Shettima has mourned the 32 Nigerian Air Force personnel who died in Monday’s aircraft crash in Ondo State, saying the country owes them an enduring debt of gratitude for their service.

In a condolence message issued on Tuesday to the families of the deceased and members of the Nigerian Air Force, Shettima described the incident as a painful national tragedy.

He assured the bereaved families that the Federal Government would remain with them even after the three-day national mourning period.

Shettima said the sacrifice of the deceased must be remembered, stressing that those who serve the country should not be forgotten when they pay the ultimate price.

“32 of our compatriots left on a routine mission in the service of their country. They were colleagues, friends and comrades.

“But beyond the uniforms they wore and the ranks they held, they were husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.

“Somewhere today, there is an empty chair. Somewhere, a family is still trying to comprehend the sudden silence left by someone who was expected to return home.

“These are the human faces of the supreme sacrifice we speak about as a nation,” he said.

The vice president reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s response to the tragedy, including the declaration of three days of national mourning and the directive for flags to be flown at half-mast in honour of the fallen personnel.

According to Shettima, the deaths of the officers have created an enduring obligation for Nigeria to remember their service and the families they left behind.

“We cannot ask the bereaved to be strong today. Grief does not obey instructions.

“We can only assure them that Nigeria remembers, Nigeria mourns with them, and Nigeria will stand beside them beyond these days of mourning,” he said.

Shettima also extended his condolences to the wider Nigerian Air Force community, acknowledging the personal impact of losing colleagues with whom they shared a bond of duty and sacrifice.

“To the men and women of the Nigerian Air Force, we know that this loss is yours in a particularly personal way.

“Your fallen colleagues have paid the supreme price. A grateful nation honours their courage, their service and the families who shared them with Nigeria,” he stated.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and for strength and comfort for their families, colleagues and loved ones.

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