Ben Murray-Bruce, the senator representing Bayelsa East constituency at the National Assembly, has flayed President Muhammadu Buhari for absenting himself from the burial of the five officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) who died in a helicopter crash during anti-Boko Haram operations, as well as that of 19 of the soldiers killed in Metele, Borno State, by Boko Haram.
On January 2, a NAF helicopter was lost in combat while providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion in Damasak, northern Borno State.
The five officers were subsequently listed as Flight Lieutenant Perowei Jacob, a Pilot in Command; Flight Lieutenant Kaltho Paul Kilyofas, a Co-Pilot; Sergeant Auwal Ibrahim, a Flight Technician; Lance Corporal Adamu Nura, a Gunner; and Aircraftman Meshack Ishmael, a Gunner.
The quintet were laid to rest on Tuesday, without Buhari in attendance — a development that irks Murray-Bruce.
“I was rather disappointed that the President did not attend either the funerals of the Metele soldiers, or the five Air Force officers who perished in the helicopter crash at Damasak,” he tweeted. “His presence would have greatly boosted the morale of our troops. It was a missed opportunity.”