The identity of one of two personnel of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) who were onboard an aircraft when it crashed on Tuesday in Kaduna has been revealed as Flt-Lt. Abubakar Alkali.
His family said the incident has left them devastated.
Some of them who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Wednesday said that they have taken solace in the fact that ‘God giveth and God taketh’.
Sulaiman Dauda, an uncle of the deceased, said Alkali was a fine officer, always involved in serving his fatherland.
“Akali is a fine officer, always in the service of his fatherland; a great son to us; we were devastated.
“But we take consolation in the fact that God giveth, God taketh, and fortunately, we belong to a family that lay emphasis on fear of God.
“The kind of life he lived is very encouraging, and we have accepted it (incident) as being ordained by God,” said Dauda.
Also, Brig-Gen Umar Alkali, elder brother of the deceased, told NAN that although the tragedy was painful, no person on earth would live beyond his or her time, as ordained by God.
“I am the eldest brother to Abubakar: our father died when he was just two years, so he grew up knowing me as a father; its a sad happening, but we all know that death is inevitable,” he said.
The crashed NAF trainer aircraft claimed the life of Flt-Lt Alkali, a pilot instructor, and his colleague.
The Force is yet to issue a statement on the crash which occurred within the NAF Base in Kaduna.
Alkali was buried on Tuesday in Kaduna at Kawo Cemetery.
