![Nigeria Air Force consoles the family of the deceased crew member](http://media.assettype.com/lagoslocalnews%2F2023-08%2F00331d32-476a-4a3a-b17d-86c0678790d3%2F21097AAB_EB07_47F7_85B6_F9D0CC4C0ACD.jpeg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar on Wednesday, August 23, visited and condoled with the families of the deceased crew members of the ill-fated MI-171E Helicopter that crashed in Niger on Aug. 14.
This is contained in a statement made available by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Gabkwet, the air chief visited the families in Port Harcourt, Rivers.
While condoling the families over the painful loss, Abubakar said the loss was a major setback for the NAF, which would take the service some time to get over.
He also assured them that the sacrifices of their loved ones would not be in vain, noting that the NAF family, as well as all Nigerians would forever remember them for giving their lives for the survival of the nation.
“The NAF will always stand with you and support you till the end,” he said.
Similarly, the CAS while interacting with officers and personnel of the NAF unit, appreciated them for their commitment and efforts in the ongoing joint-military operations in the Niger Delta.
He also assured them that the sacrifices of their fallen colleagues would not be in vain, adding that the service would do everything possible to forestall such occurrences in the future.