The remains of one of the Victims of the ill- fated Dana air crash and commanding officer of the 6 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Abak , Akwa Ibom state, Lt. col. Owoicho Jumbo Ochigbo were on Saturday committed to mother earth amidst tears and wailing.
Top government officers including the president of the Senate, Senator David Mark, his wife Helen, minister of interior Comrade Abba Morro, Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio,top military brass led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) , 82 Division who represented the CHief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, wives of Military Officers, community leaders among others witnessed the emotion laden burial.
In his tribute at the grave side, the president of the Senate lamented the untimely death of late Ochigbo whom he described as an officer and a gentleman in every sense of it.
According to Mark:”Lt. Col Jumbo Ochigbo was clearly an officer and a gentleman in every sense of the word. He was passionate about development of the Nigerian Army.He was an intelligent young man with a very bright future who conducted himself in an exemplary manner”
He counseled the bereaved family and the Nigerian Army to to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation.
To lessen the pains of the bereaved , senator Mark announced scholarship to university level for the three children of late Ochigbo. He also adopted them as his children.
In his tribute, the chief of Army Staff, lamented that late Ochigbo will be greatly remembered for his gallantry, good sense of purpose and selfless service to our fatherland.
He said:” He was a worthy son of Nigeria, an officer and a gentleman. It is our fervent hope that we take solace that his calling is beyond man’s ability and imagination”,
Also speaking, the Interior minister Morro noted that late Ochigbo lived a short but eventful life and impacted positively on the society,
Akwa Ibom state governor who had earlier paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family in Otukpo, Benue State described late Ochigbo as a very committed officer who would be missed greatly.
In his sermon at the interdenominational service, Assistant Director 82 Division chaplain Rev. Lt. Col. Gwom Mairiga said as humans we cannot question the will of God but we examine ourselves and avoid pitfalls.
Late Ochigbo was the commanding officer of 6 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Abak in Akwa Ibom state. He was among the 153 passengers of the ill- fated Dana Airline on June 3, 2012, in Lagos.
