In a poignant plea echoing three decades of unresolved grief, widows of military officers who perished in the Hercules C130 military jet crash of December 26, 1992, are urging the Nigerian military and the Federal Government to honor their late husbands’ entitlements. The military transport plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Lagos, claiming the lives of all 163 on board, many of whom were middle-ranking army, navy, and air force officers attending a staff college course in the North.
The heartrending appeal surfaced during the distribution of palliatives to widows of deceased military officers in the South-South, orchestrated by Mrs. Oghogho Musa, the wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, at the Nigeria Army’s 6 Division headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Mrs. Folake Lasisi, representing the widows, including those of the Hercules C130 crash, lamented that, even after 31 years, the families of the victims had not received their entitled benefits. Expressing the dire impact of the tragedy, Mrs. Lasisi disclosed that many widows and children of the deceased officers had passed away, with numerous surviving children lacking government support for education.
She asserted, “We want to feel that sense of belonging even though our husbands are no longer there in our midst. We want to feel a sense of belonging, and because of that, some things are necessary to do. Some of our children are not getting their educational sponsorship; we want you to look at it and do something about it.”
Mrs. Musa, in her role, recognized the resilience and dedication of these military widows, expressing appreciation through the distribution of palliatives. She lauded them for their steadfast commitment to men in uniform, emphasizing that the gesture was a token of gratitude.
As part of the Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day for 2024, Rear Admiral I.A. Dewu, the Chief of Defense Civil-Military Relations, highlighted that the distributed items were a tangible expression of support from the armed forces for families who have borne the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the nation.
