Bayelsa mourns 4 NAF plane crash victims

The Bayelsa State Executive Council, Wednesday, observed a minute silence in honour of four of its citizens in the ill-fated Nigeria Air Force (NAF) plane that crashed on Monday in Ondo state.

The NAF, in a statement, said it lost 25 of its personnel in the tragic incident, including the four from Bayelsa identified as Flight Lieutenant Tarila Lazarus (Southern Ijaw local government area), Sergeant Izibenikien Samuel (Yenagoa), Sergeant Ebimobowei Charles Alafuka (Ekeremor) and Godstime Tarabina (Kolokuma/Opokuma)

A statement by the governor’s media aide, Daniel Alabrah, said Governor Douye Diri, who presided at the 198th session of the meeting in the Government House, Yenagoa, expressed grief on behalf of the government and people of the state.

The governor said the state had been deeply affected by the tragedy, noting that he had earlier issued a condolence message to commiserate with President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of the Air Staff and families of the victims before the identity of the victims were released.

At the meeting, the governor also appreciated Bayelsans for their massive participation in activities marking the state’s 30th anniversary, saying the turnout demonstrated the people’s love for the state and their willingness to identify with its development.

He noted that the anniversary was not a political party event but an opportunity for Bayelsans to reflect on the state’s journey, assess its present position and project its future.

He particularly thanked the committee led by the deputy governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, government officials, citizens, diplomats, federal agencies and other guests who contributed to the success of the celebrations.

Diri urged Bayelsans to preserve the spirit of love, unity and oneness demonstrated during the anniversary, stressing that a state could only achieve greater development when its people worked together.