By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Green Heroes Foundation on Saturday unveiled a memorial cenotaph at Abuja’s National Military Cemetery in honour of military personnel who died in the 1992 Nigerian Air Force C-130 crash.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foundation is a Nigerian non-governmental organisation run by retired military personnel that supports war veterans, ex-combatants, and their families.
NAN also reports that the Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft, designated NAF 911, crashed shortly after take-off from Lagos on Sept. 26, 1992, in one of the most tragic incidents in the history of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Chairman of the foundation, retired Maj.-Gen. Shehu Yusuf, in his remarks at the event, said the decision to erect the memorial followed a visit to the cemetery where the foundation discovered that there was no monument commemorating the victims of the 1992 crash.
Yusuf said the foundation decided to establish a permanent structure to remind Nigerians of the gallant personnel who sacrificed their lives in defence of the country.
“We came to the cemetery and found that there was nothing like a monument or anything signifying that we lost our colleagues far back in 1992.
“So, we decided to put up a structure through the entire nation remembers that we had gallant officers who did all they could to defend this country.”
Yusuf added that the foundation would sustain the remembrance of the fallen heroes through annual wreath-laying ceremonies at the cenotaph every Sept. 26.
He noted that the crash also offered important lessons on military aviation safety, particularly the need to ensure that aircraft and engines were in top condition before operations.
“Our engines and machines have to be in top shape before embarking on such journeys. Those were very, very important lessons,” he said.
The green heroes foundation chairman also noted that memorials played an important role in preserving history and ensuring that future generations continued to remember those who made sacrifices for the nation.
“This event will keep the memory of these individuals alive as long as possible,” he said.
On support for families affected by the crash, Yusuf said the foundation had continued to reach out to them, as well as families of other veterans.
He said the foundation also provided accommodation and assistance to veterans who travelled to Abuja for administrative and other official engagements.
He added that the foundation had continued to assist veterans in navigating relevant government institutions and military services before returning to their respective locations.
Yusuf said that the foundation would continue to support veterans, military families and families of fallen heroes as part of its commitment to
preserving their dignity and welfare.
The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, in his remarks said the cenotaph was a permanent testament to the service and sacrifice of the fallen heroes.
Musa represented by AVM Abdullahi Yaro, Chief of Policy and Plans, NAF, recalled that the nation was thrown into mourning 34 years ago when the aircraft crashed shortly after departing Lagos, killing some of the finest officers of the armed forces of Nigeria and friendly nations.
“Their loss remains one of the most painful chapters in our national military history,” he said.
The minister added that the cenotaph was more than a structure of stone, as it served as a permanent reminder that the service and sacrifice of the fallen would not be forgotten.
He assured the families of the victims that the Federal Government and the Ministry of Defence share in their enduring grief.
“Your loved ones remain part of the armed forces family and their memory will continue to inspire generations of Nigerian servicemen and women,” he said.
Musa commended the foundation for conceiving and delivering the memorial, urging other well-meaning organisations and individuals to emulate the initiative.
In the same, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, represented by Rear Adm. Gideon Kachim, Chief of Defence Administration, said the ceremony reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to ensuring that those who gave their lives in service were not forgotten.
Okuyede also recalled that the Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules, designated NAF 911, crashed shortly after take-off from Lagos on Sept. 26, 1992.
He said historical accounts recorded that the aircraft was carrying military personnel and other passengers travelling towards Kaduna and Jos, with no survivors.
According to him, the tragedy remains one of the most devastating aviation disasters in Nigeria’s military history.
The CDS said its consequences extended beyond the crash, as families lost fathers, husbands, sons and brothers, while the armed forces lost members of its institutional family.
“We remember them, not simply as victims of a tragic accident, but as men and women who are part of the continuing story of service to Nigeria,” he said.
He described the cenotaph as a permanent part of the armed forces’ institutional memory and a reminder that behind every uniform was a human being, a family and a story.
He commended the green heroes foundation for contributing to the culture of remembrance and preserving the legacy of the fallen heroes.
Oluyede added that the monument would provide a place where serving personnel, families, researchers and future generations could pause, reflect and remember the sacrifices associated with the tragedy.
He urged other organisations to emulate initiatives that promoted national unity, patriotism and respect for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for Nigeria.
Addressing the families, the CDS said the passage of 34 years could not erase the loss of loved ones.
“Official records may document names, ranks and appointments, but families remember much more. They remember the voices, the smiles, the shared moments and the lives that were lived before that fateful day,” he said.
He urged serving personnel to draw inspiration from the fallen heroes by demonstrating greater dedication to duty, professionalism, discipline, comradeship and commitment to Nigeria.
“The best way to honour those who came before us is to remain faithful to the values for which the armed forces exist and to continue serving Nigeria with courage, loyalty and distinction,” he said.
Chairman of the occasion, retired AVM Gbolahan Adekunle, said the cenotaph symbolised memory, honour and gratitude.
Adekunle said the passage of time must never erase the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in service of the nation.
He said the memorial demonstrated that ordinary citizens, when moved by a worthy cause, could accomplish extraordinary things without depending entirely on government intervention.
Adekunle commended the foundation for its humanitarian activities supporting military veterans, widows, children of fallen heroes and families of deployed troops.
He assured the families of the fallen heroes that they would never walk alone, while praying for the continued repose of the departed.
The ceremony marking 34 years since the tragedy, was also attended by representatives of service chiefs, serving and retired senior officers and families of the fallen heroes.
The cenotaph is expected to serve as a permanent monument to the service, sacrifice and patriotism of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.(NAN)
