BREAKING: NAF buries pilot who died in Kaduna helicopter crash with full military honour (photos, video)
The funeral ceremony of the Nigerian pilot who died in a Kaduna Helicopter clash is currently ongoing at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.
Group Captain Adanu Gabriel Ochai's remains arrived the cemetery on Wednesday, September 6, amid tears and emotion from family members, friends and military colleagues.
The event was attended by senior officers of the Nigerian Air Force and family members of the deceased.
Ochai, a native of Adum Otukpa, Ogbadibo local government area of Benue state, died in a NAF Beetle Aircraft accident in Kaduna state on Thursday, August 24.
Group Captain Ochai is being buried at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja.
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As its customary with the Nigerian Military, the late Ochai was buried with full military honours.
Group Captain Ochai died in a NAF helicopter crash on August 24
Late Ochai was born on June 14, 1971 to the family of Chief and Mrs David Ochai in Onitsha. He was a native of Otukpa District in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue state.
The late Group Captain is a native of Adum Otukpa, Ogbadibo local government area of Benue state
He attended nursery and primary schools in Benin, lbadan and Lokoja between 1974 and 1982 was and admitted into the Command Secondary School lbadan where he graduated in 1988.
He was later admitted into the Nigeria Defence Academy in 1989 as a member of 41 Regular Course and upon graduation with a BSc (Hons) degree in Physics in 1994 he was commissioned into the Nigeria Air Force as a Pilot teacher.
Group Captain Ochai was born on June 14, 1971
Immediately after his graduation from the Nigeria Defence Academy, Ochai was initially trained as a Radar teacher.
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In 1999 he was selected for flying training at 301 Flying Training School Kaduna as a member of Student Pilot Course 32 and thus began his love affair with flying.
Group Captain Ochai admitted into the Nigeria Defence Academy in 1989 as a member of 41 Regular Course
The late group captain during his lifetime distinguished himself as a spectacular flyer which earned him a training as an instructor pilot at the Oxford Aviation Academy in the UK.
He was later appointed the air assistant to the Chief of Air Staff and later military Assistant to the Chief of Defence Staff.
Group Captain Ochai is survived by his wife Rita and three children
He served in that capacity until he was nominated for National Defence Course at the National Defence College Bangladesh which he successfully completed in December 2016.
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In January 2017 Group Capt Ochai was posted to Kaduna to serve as the Commanding Officer, Primary Flying Training Wing of 401 Flying Training School and also as the Director of Quality Assurance and Testing at the Air Force Research and Development Centre, appointments he held until his death on August 24.
He is survived by his lovely wife Rita Amina Ochai, and three daughters - Gabrielle, Grace and Gianna, his parents, brothers and sisters.
You can watch NAIJ.com Facebook live video of late group Captain Ochai's funeral here:
You can also watch this NAIJ.com video of Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram below: