Remembering the Polycarps and martyrs of the Nigerian Air Force

“It is the cause, and not the death, that makes martyrs” – Napoleon (1769-1821) Those acquainted with church history would have heard or read about Polycarp of Smyrna, in Asia Minor. A Greek by origin, Polycarp was accounted to be a disciple of John the Apostle and ally to others who had seen the Lord. […]

“It is the cause, and not the death, that makes martyrs” – Napoleon (1769-1821)

Those acquainted with church history would have heard or read about Polycarp of Smyrna, in Asia Minor. A Greek by origin, Polycarp was accounted to be a disciple of John the Apostle and ally to others who had seen the Lord. Given his apostolic affinity, Polycarp was said to be an ardent believer of the gospel, having lived in harmony with the scriptures. He later became the Bishop of the church in Smyrna (in modern Izmir in Turkey) during the church formative stage, and at a time that its persecution was rife. As a church leader, Polycarp opposed many of the Roman traditions such as idol worshipping, and heretics of the Christian faith, hence he was denounced to the government, arrested, and tried on account of his faith. Failing to renounce his faith, Polycarp was sentenced to death by burning. Because his captors were not done with him, history has it that Polycarp was also stabbed even as his body roasts to the great beyond. Today, it is told of Polycarp, on account of his death, that he became the first martyr of the post-new testament era in Smyrna. Polycarp, till date, is admired as a significant church leader and his death celebrated every February 23 especially by the Eastern Orthodox Christians. 

To borrow the words of Napoleon (1769-1821), what makes one a martyr is not the death but the cause. The Cambridge, and Oxford Advanced Leaner’s, Dictionary, defines ‘martyr’ as someone who suffers much or is killed because of his/her religious or political beliefs, and is often admired because of it. While, historically, martyrs appear to be synonymous with religious faithful, today it is no longer an expression that is restricted to the religious parlance. The word, in actual sense, can be used to describe a wide range of people from all walks of life including the military. The distinctive attributes of a martyr, which include personal denial, selfless sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to a noble cause, even in the face of danger or death, are all found in the profession of arms. So, like Polycarp, there are many martyrs among the men and women of our Armed Forces, whose demise and unquantifiable contributions to our nation building are worth celebrating. Each year, the Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) provides such opportunity to remember these gallant men and women who, as members of our Armed Forces, died serving our fatherland. For us in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), today’s remembrance celebration reechoes the sweet memories of our fallen heroes in blue uniforms who, at the expense of their lives, have paid the huge cost of preserving our sovereignty as a nation as well as the freedom and security of the rest of us.  

The NAF, in recent past, has lost a number of gallant officers and men to the counter insurgency and counter terrorist operation in the North East, as well as to other internal security operations across the country. The very first NAF casualty of the Boko Haram insurgency was Sergeant Umar Abubakar slaughtered by the insurgents on 25 July 2013 in Maiduguri. This heart wrecking incident was followed by the death of Flight Lieutenant Akweke Junior Nwakile who died in a helicopter crash on 21 July 2014 while on a training mission south of Bama, Borno State. The missing Alpha Jet (NAF/466), involving Group Captain Abdulrasheed Bamidele Braimoh and Wing Commander Chinda Hedima, is also a case to remember on this special occasion. The aircraft went down on 12 September 2014 at Kauri while undertaking an air interdiction mission against the Boko Haram Terrorists. Whereas the death of Wing Commander Hedima has been confirmed by own soldier who witnessed his killing by the terrorists, the fate of his co-pilot, Group Captain Braimoh, is yet uncertain for now as nothing definite points to his demise. While earnestly pray and hope for his return, the air of uncertainty about his whereabouts necessitated the current stance by the NAF that he is still missing in action.  

The NAF again recorded the unfortunate loss of Group Captain Ubong Akpan and Master Warrant Officer Hosea Zabesan in another helicopter crash on 13 November 2014. The duo had embarked on an operational flight against the insurgents but went down near Yola, Adamawa State. The painful death of Flying Officer Duke Toryem on 21 May 2015 is another case to remember. The young officer was on patrol when his vehicle stepped on landmine planted by the Boko Haram Terrorists. Furthermore, one cannot but appreciate the role of Flight Lieutenant Ebitimi Owei in the collective effort to restore peace to the North East. Late Owei, an F-7Ni pilot, crashed due to bad weather in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State while returning to base after successfully undertaking an interdiction mission against the insurgents on 28 August 2015. The victims of the ill-fated Dornier 228 aircraft that crashed in Kaduna is another death too many to remember at a time like this. The crew, along with passengers onboard, had gone down in the line of duty on 28 August 2015 while on flight from Kaduna to Abuja.  These heroes include Squadron Leader Adekunle Suara, Flying Officer Kehinde Olaniran, Warrant Officer Akpan Etim and ACW Naomi Abegunde. 

While we can only pray as colleagues that God will grant repose to the souls of these departed great Nigerians, it is hoped that their deaths will not be in vain as fellow Nigerians continue to appreciate their sacrifice while the government remains committed to cater for the welfare needs of the families they left behind.  In this regard, it is gratifying to note that the NAF is doing a lot to immortalize its fallen heroes. The NAF, under the leadership of Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar as Chief of the Air Staff, has undertaken a number of developmental projects, some of which are named after the fallen heroes. The NAF has also continued to provide befitting houses to the families to live in, in addition to prompt and timely payment of full benefits. The NAF, of recent, has also introduced skill acquisition programmes for widows and orphans of deceased personnel in order to empower them for self-reliance. These gestures are no doubt commendable as they are pointers to the fact that the Armed Forces Remembrance Day is much more that wreath laying or mere ceremony to offer respect to the departed. While, in addition, it reminds us of our collective responsibility towards the families of those who have paid the supreme price in their service to our nation, and it is indeed another avenue for boosting the morale of those still serving.

* Group Captain Famuyiwa is the Director of Public Relations & Information for the Nigerian Air Force