Ex-CDS Alex Badeh Laid To Rest Amid Tears In Abuja

The remains of the 15th Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Alex
Badeh, were on Wednesday lowered into the grave at the National
Military Cemetery in Abuja.

The ex-CDS, an Air Chief Marshal who served under former
president Goodluck Jonathan, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen
on the Keffi-Abuja Expressway on December 18, 2018, when he was
returning from his farm.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Badeh’s remains
were committed to mother earth after a prayer offered by D.B. Gani,
a Group-Captain and the Director of the Air Force Chaplaincy,
followed by the laying of wreaths at his grave.

Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
(SGF), led others to perform the solemn ceremony.

He was followed by representatives of the Minister of Defence,
Nuratu Batagarawa, Permanent Secretary in the ministry; Chief of
Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin; and Chief of Army Staff, Tukur
Buratai.

Others were Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ette Ibas; Chief of Air
Staff, Sadique Abubakar; Mr Badeh’s wife, Mary; and a
representative of Course 21, which Mr Badeh belonged.

The ceremony was rounded off with a 21-gun salute in honour of
the late CDS, who was also the 18th Chief of Air Staff.

Born on January 10, 1957, in Vimtim, Mubi Local North Government
Area of Adamawa, then Gongola State, Mr Badeh acquired his
secondary school education at Villanova Secondary School,
Numan.

Thereafter, he proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA)
in 1977 as a member of the 21 Regular Course and was commissioned
as a pilot officer on July 3, 1979.

He attended both the junior and senior staff courses, rose
through the ranks and was appointed the Chief of Air Staff on
October 4, 2012.

On January 16, 2014, he was appointed the 15th Chief of Defence
by ex-President Jonathan.

He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.

Dignitaries at the occasion included the governors of Adamawa
and Plateau, Umar Jibrilla and Simon Lalong; Deputy Governor of
Bayelsa, John Jonah; and Deputy Speaker of Adamawa House of
Assembly.

Others were Oluseyi Petirin, a former CDS and former Chief of
Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika. (NAN)