2006, Her dad dïed in a military plane crãsh, 20 years later, her husband dïed in another
On 17 September, 2006, a Nigerian Air Force officer, Wing Commander E. O. Adekunle, dïed in a military aircraft crãsh in Benue State. The Nigerian Air Force Dornier 228 carrying senior military officers crãshed in the Oko area of Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State.
Among the victims was Wing Commander Adekunle, who was serving as the co-pilot. The aircraft was carrying senior military officers travelling towards Cross River State when tragedy struck killing 13 military officers.
Adekunle's death left behind a family that had to continue living with the memory of a father who never returned home from a military flight.
THEN CAME 2026.
According to reports published after the latest Nigerian Air Force crash, Flight Lieutenant Damilola Adekunle, the daughter of the late Wing Commander Adekunle, had married Squadron Leader Ahamefule Aham Man-Ugwueje on 19 September 2026.
It was supposed to be the beginning of a beautiful new chapter. But barely two weeks later, trãgedy returned. On 5 October 2026, Man-Ugwueje was among the Nigerian Air Force personnel kïlled when NAF 931 crãshed at Igbokoda in Ondo State. He was serving as the aircraft's co-pilot.
Imagine the pain. A daughter who had already lost her father in a military aircraft accïdent years earlier had just begun building her own family, only to lose her husband, another Nigerian Air Force pilot, in another aircraft crãsh.
In 2006, a father went on a military flight and never came home. In 2026, his daughter married a military pilot and just 16 days after their wedding, he too was gone.
May the souls of Wing Commander E. O. Adekunle, Squadron Leader Ahamefule Man-Ugwueje and all the officers who løst their lives in these crashes continue to rest in peace.
Some stories are not merely history. They are wøunds passed from one generation to another. And this is one of such.
- Man-Ugwueje was the son of a retired Group Captain Man-Ugwueje.
- His wife, Flight Lieutenant Damililola Adekunle, is reported to be the daughter of the late Wing Commander O. E. Adekunle.
- Thus, both the bride and groom came from Nigerian Air Force families, making the trãgedy particularly striking.
ℹ️Ethnic African Stories
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