Nigerians pay tributes to pilot who died 25 days after wedding, 4 others

* Deceased paid tribute to wife for ‘staying home alone’
hours before death

Following the death of five officials of the Nigerian Air Force
in a helicopter crash on Wednesday during an air operation against
Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State, Nigerians have continued to
pay tributes to the fallen heroes.

The air force spokesperson, Ibikunle Daramola, who provided
details of the crash in a statement on Thursday, named the five
victims as Flight Lieutenant Perowei Jacob, who was the
Pilot-in-Command and Flight Lieutenant Kaltho Paul Kilyofas as
Co-Pilot. Others were Sergeant Auwal Ibrahim, a Flight Technician
as well as Lance Corporal Adamu Nura and Aircraftman Meshack
Ishmael.

The case of the Pilot-in- Command, Flight Lieutenant Perowei
Jacob, about whom it has emerged, only got married 25 days before
his death, has left Nigerians feeling really sad. According to
information available to Saturday Telegraph, Perowei tied the knot
on December 8, meaning his marriage to his young bride lasted only
25 days before he died along with his co-pilot and three crew
members on Wednesday night.

The fighter helicopter, an Mi-35M, reportedly crashed while
providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion in Damasak,
Borno state. The heartbreaking scenario has seen many Nigerians
mourning the gallant military men and thanking them for their
service to the nation., with many on social media sending prayers
and well wishes to the families of the heroes and especially to the
widow of late Perowei. President Muhammadu, in a post shared on his
verified Twitter account, mourned the passing of the Armed Forces
personnel, writing: “I mourn our Armed Forces personnel who lost
their lives in a military helicopter crash in Damasak, Borno State
yesterday.

“Heartfelt condolences to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal
Sadique Abubakar, the Nigerian Air Force, and the families of the
dead.

These fine officers and men lost their lives striving to
guarantee our safety and protection as a people and a nation. Their
sacrifices will never be in vain. May their souls rest in peace.”
Among one of those to offer his tributes was Fela Durotoye,
presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), who
tweeted on Thursday: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the
families and friends of two pilots and three personnel of the
Nigerian Air Force who sadly lost their lives in a helicopter crash
which occurred in Damasak, Borno State, yesterday. May the labours
of our fallen he roes never be in vain.”

Moved by the death of Flight Lieutenant Perowei Jacob, Twitter
user @ Cheekah1_ also wrote: “A pilot in the Nigerian Airforce just
died not up to one month after his wedding… this news is just heart
breaking and sad” while @ElisaKreations wrote: “May God comfort the
families of the departed souls.

Surrender the soul to the departed to rest in perfect peace with
the Lord.” Seeking to put a perspective to it, @3101771be59d463
wrote: “One of the fallen heroes got married on the 8th of December
2018, his wife became a widow at just three week two days after
wedding. What a sad moment!” Awoyemi O. Reuben, a friend of the
deceased pilot on social media platform, Facebook, also put the
matter in words for other to dissect. “The pilot who died in that
helicopter crash, Flt lieutenant Perowei Jacob. Got married on the
8th Dec 2018. Died 2nd Jan 2019. Sad and unfortunate. May his soul
rest in peace.”

Commenting, Awe Olayinka, wrote: “This is very unfortunate”
while Rufus Akinrelere wrote: “Very sad RIP.” On her own, Janet
Agboola simply reacted to the Facebook post by writing: “This is
serious ooo. RIP” as Olusegun Ene Victoria said: “This is too
painful. Also reacting to the post, Dr. Eniola Olaitan Ajayi, the
Nigerian Ambassador to Hungary, responded thus: “Amen.

Very sad.” With many Nigerians barely able to come to terms with
the tragic incident, a friend of the Co-Pilot of the crashed
helicopter, Kaltho Paul Kilyofas, an indigene of Gombe State, has
reacted taken on social media. The friend, Emmanuel Okojie, who is
seemingly still in shock, posted photos of the deceased pilot along
with the caption: “Rest in Peace Kaltho Paul Kilyofas this one weak
me…”

Also, Sergeant Auwal Ibrahim, the Flight Techinician attached to
the helicopter, left behind two young children, a girl and a boy.
Sharing photos of Ibrahim with his children, Mustapha Haruna, who
claimed to be a classmate of the deceased, wrote: “INNA LILLAHI WA
INNA ILAIHIRRAHIUUN With a sorrow to share the pensive mode and
announce the demise of a friend classmate….. SGT AUWAL IBRAHIM who
died yesterday during operations in Helicopter crash, May ALLAH
(SWA) forgive your sin and accept the good deed, make Jannatul
firdaus your final destination and bless your family.”

On the day he died also, Lance Corporal Adamu Nura, had
celebrated wives of military men, writing that “marriage to a
soldier is the greatest sacrifice of life.” The late Nura, a Gunner
(supporter of Arsenal Footbal Club) who also left two young
children, had hours before his death, taken to Facebook to
celebrate his wife and other women married to military men,
writing: “MY WIFE! MY LOVE!! MY QUEEN!!! I salute you. My man of
the year goes to all the WIVES of our soldiers who stay home alone
and lonely while their husbands suffer in the dangerous field of
war zones.

“Marriage to a soldier is the greatest sacrifice of life. Any
woman who marries a soldier can do anything for love. She knows the
uncertainty of her marriage but because of her patriotic and true
love, she reached a vow to a soldier. “Any woman married to a
soldier should be celebrated and appreciated. Her husband is not
hers alone but for the nation. A soldier can spend a whole year
without seeing his wife or family and the diligent woman would
remain faithful to the union.

“In a sane clime, special considerations would have been given
to wives of soldiers but here we look away as if their condition
matters not.

Where ever you are today, stand erect and show respect to the
wives of our gallant men. “God shall bring your sacrificial men
back home safe and healthy. We appreciate your support at the home
front. For those whose husbands are no more, God shall send your
helpers. God bless the WIVES of our soldiers. Appreciatively
musing.”