Armed Forces Remembrance...

--> Wing Commander Chimda Hedima 1975 - 2014.
On 11/09/14, a company of NA soldiers attempted to overrun a Boko Haram position in Borno. Due to the low altitude, the plane suffered significant damage from the terrorists' gun fire. Wing Commander Hedima and his partner realized that they were going to crash.
Instead of hurriedly parachuting to safety within Nigerian controlled territory, they chose to embark on a mission to destroy as many terrorists and their weapons as possible. They parachuted out at the last minute but not before ensuring their plane slammed into a column of terrorists in which 63 Boko Haram members were killed as a result of their bravery.
Wing Commander Hedima was captured. On 12/09/14, he was killed by the Boko Haram.
He chose Nigeria, he chose all of us. We cannot forget him. Please share his story. His name should be known by everyone.
Rest In Peace Commander, we are grateful.
May you find eternal peace in the bosom of the almighty God.

That was a write up for wing commander Chimda I read two years ago.

His unnamed partner is wing commander Dele Braimoh. Scoro as we fondly call him…. It’s been a little over two years since I’ve hoped that we would get news that he’s alive and well somewhere. I can’t imagine what his wife and little boy and girl whom he dotted on are going through.

I’ve known him since I was a little girl, when he was just a flight lieutenant, a friend of the house, till he became my friend as well.

He loved what he did. He was proud of what he did.

He spoke with pride and so much ease about what isn’t so easy to do. How he loved it… the fact that he could fly a jet faster than the speed of sound. He kind of loved bragging about it, and he had every right to, because he was good at it.

For the love of this country, for my safety and yours…. He fought; he flew over enemy territory and did the best he could.

His last updated profile picture on whatsapp represented what he was proud of… flying!

I’ve put off doing a post, because it feels so unfair, like I have bowed to the conclusion that he’s really gone.

I choose foolishness, the foolishness of hope. The foolishness that a friendship hasn’t been cut off just like that. That a man hasn’t been taken from his young family, just like that.

Oga Scoro, I’m foolish enough to choose what story I want to choose after two years, that maybe, just maybe he parachuted out and like some Hollywood movie, he’ll be found. A body brings closure… no body ignites a flicker of hope.

Today is the armed forces Remembrance Day… and this post is dedicated to Wing Commander Dele Braimoh, hoping he comes home to his family soon.

To all the lives that have been lost in fighting for our peace in this country… May God comfort their families for the sacrifices they’ve lost.

For the wives and husbands of all those fighting for us… I pray for grace to live each day in hope, knowing that God is protecting your husbands and fathers.

And to those serving gallant men of our joint forces… I salute you. I pray for strength and for wisdom, I pray for protection and grace. Thank you for sacrificing so much to bring sanity and peace to our nation.

Thank you for your bravery.

Thank you for loving your country enough, even when we don’t give you the best you deserve.

Lt. Col Moyo Akin-Ojo, Group Captain Tunde Phillips and all our officers in the frontline… God bless you!