By Gabriel Ameh
12 Years On, Nigeria Remembers Fallen NAF Pilots Braimoh, Hedima
By Edward Gabkwet
September 2026 marks 12 years since two Nigerian Air Force pilots embarked on a combat mission in the Northeast from which one would never return, while the fate of the other would remain uncertain amid the brutality of war.
Group Captain Abdulrasheed Bamidele Braimoh and Wing Commander Chimda Hedima were flying Alpha Jet aircraft NAF 466 on a combat mission against Boko Haram terrorists when the aircraft went down near Kauri in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State on September 12, 2014.
Hedima was subsequently captured and killed by the terrorists, while Braimoh was later declared killed in action in accordance with the provisions governing the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Twelve years later, their sacrifice remains worthy of remembrance.
Their story also raises a broader question about how much Nigerians truly appreciate the men and women who put their lives on the line in defence of the nation.
Over time, casualty figures involving military personnel killed or wounded, aircraft lost and funerals held can become mere statistics in public discourse. But behind every casualty is a human story.
There is a child who may grow up without a parent, parents who lose a son or daughter, spouses who suddenly become widows or widowers, and comrades who return to duty carrying the memory of someone who stood beside them only days earlier.
Military operations will inevitably attract scrutiny, particularly when they suffer setbacks. Such scrutiny is an important part of a democratic society.
However, in the midst of those debates, it is important not to lose sight of the men and women who are actually carrying out these missions.
A pilot who straps into a combat aircraft cannot know with certainty whether the mission will end with a safe landing. Similarly, soldiers, sailors and other security personnel deployed to dangerous environments cannot be certain that they will return home.
Yet they go.
They accept the risks associated with their profession and the responsibility of protecting lives and national territory.
Braimoh and Hedima did so on September 12, 2014.
Their sacrifice forms part of the wider history of Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and insurgency. Over the years, numerous members of the military and other security agencies have paid the ultimate price in battles, ambushes, improvised explosive device attacks and assaults on isolated positions.
While some have become widely recognised, many others remain largely unknown outside their immediate units and families.
That should concern a nation seeking to preserve its history.
Remembering fallen heroes should not be limited to annual ceremonies or occasions when military coffins are draped in the national flag.
Nigeria needs a permanent and accessible record of its fallen military personnel, documenting their names, photographs, service histories and stories. Their families should also remain part of the national conversation about sacrifice and service.
Such records would not only honour those who died but also help future generations understand the human cost of defending the country.
Young Nigerians should understand that citizenship is not only about what people receive from their country. It is also about the sacrifices some citizens make to protect the lives, freedoms and security of others.
As Nigeria remembers Braimoh and Hedima, their story should also serve as a tribute to the many soldiers, airmen, sailors and para-military personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Twelve years after NAF 466 went down over the Northeast, their memory reminds us that the fight against terrorism is not simply about territory, military operations or casualty figures.
At its heart are people.
They are the men and women who leave their homes in uniform, enter dangerous environments and accept risks that most citizens will never have to face.
Some return. Others do not.
Today, we remember Braimoh, Hedima and the many other Nigerian security personnel who sacrificed their lives in service to the nation.
We remember their families, who continue to live with their absence.
And we remember the simple truth that behind every military casualty is a Nigerian life given in the service of the country.
May Nigeria never become so accustomed to the sacrifices of its Armed Forces and other security agencies that their loss becomes just another statistic.
May we never forget Braimoh, Hedima and the many others who went before and after them.
And may Nigeria always remain worthy of the sacrifices made in her defence.
Gabkwet, an Air Vice Marshal, writes from Abuja.
