Nigerian Air Force issues statement on death of former chief of defence staff Marshal Badeh

NIGERIAN Air Force (Naf) commanders have confirmed that former chief of defence staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh was killed yesterday by hired assassins yesterday along the Abuja-Keffi highway while on his way back from his farm.

Marshal Badeh, 61, was returning without a military escort, being driven by just his chauffer, who was also killed in the attack. Following the attack, Marshal Badeh was rushed to a hospital at the military cantonment popularly called Abacha Barracks, where he was pronounced dead.

Naf spokesman Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said: “ It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce the unfortunate demise of the former chief of defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh, who died today, December 18, from gunshot wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm on Abuja-Keffi Road. On behalf of officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, the chief of the air staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, commiserates with the family of the late former chief of defence staff over this irreparable loss.

Marshal Badeh was killed barely a month to the opening of his defence on the alleged N3.97bn fraud preferred against him by the federal government. The court fixed January  16, 2019 for his defence after his application for a no-case submission failed.

A career airman, Marshal Badeh was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 21 regular course on January 3 1977, and was commissioned pilot officer on  July 3 1979. He began his flying career at the 301 Flying Training School on the Bulldog Primary Trainer aircraft in 1979.

Between 1981 and 1982, he attended the undergraduate pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in the United States Air Force. He was at the 301 Flying Training School as a squadron pilot and later became an instructor pilot on the Bull Dog and DO-228 aircraft.

Marshal Badeh was chief of defence staff under former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan and briefly served in same role when President Muhammadu Buhari assumed power. He was succeeded by General Gabriel Olonisakin on July 13, 2015.