The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) community is marking 12 years since the loss of Alpha Jet aircraft NAF 466 and its two pilots during counter-terrorism operations in North-East Nigeria.
The aircraft, flown by Group Captain Abdulrasheed Bamidele Braimoh and Wing Commander Chimda Hedima, went down near Kauri in the Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State on September 12, 2014, while on a combat mission against Boko Haram terrorists.
Wing Commander Hedima was captured and later killed by the insurgents, while Group Captain Braimoh was officially declared Killed-in-Action in accordance with Armed Forces of Nigeria regulations.
Not Casualty Figures
In a reflective piece to mark the anniversary, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet (rtd) said the sacrifices of Braimoh, Hedima and other fallen personnel must not be reduced to casualty figures.
He noted that Nigeria has become too accustomed to news of military casualties, warning that such normalisation undermines national appreciation for the Armed Forces.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Air Force Holds Nationwide Route March Exercise
“Behind every military casualty is a story of a child who will grow up without a parent, parents who will bury their sons and daughters, and spouses who suddenly become widows or widowers,” he said.
According to him, while public scrutiny of military operations is normal in a democracy, Nigerians must not lose sight of the personnel who risk their lives daily.
“The pilot who straps himself into a combat aircraft is unsure whether the mission will end with a safe landing, just as the soldier who moves into a forward position is uncertain if he will see his family again.
Yet they proceed, serving with honour and courage,” he stated.
AVM Gabkwet called for more enduring ways to preserve the memory of Nigeria’s fallen heroes beyond the annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
Service Stories
He proposed the creation of a permanent, accessible national record containing names, photographs and service stories of fallen military and para-military personnel, with recognition for their families and inclusion in national history.
“There should be a permanent, accessible national record of Nigeria’s fallen military personnel.
Their names, pictures and stories should be preserved, their families should be recognised and their sacrifices should form part of our national history,” he said.
He also advocated for civic education for young Nigerians, stressing that citizenship involves not only rights but also sacrifices made for national survival.
The former NAF spokesperson emphasised that Nigeria’s counter-terrorism effort should not be measured solely in terms of territories recovered but also in the lives given to secure the nation.
“Twelve years after NAF 466 disappeared from the skies over the Northeast, the memories of Braimoh, Hedima and many others should remind us that the fight against terrorism has never been merely about recovering lost spaces.
It has always been about those who leave home in uniform so that others can remain safe,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to remember all pilots, soldiers, airmen, sailors and paramilitary personnel who have died in the line of duty and their families who live with their absence.
