Her Excellency, Apostle Dr. Ngozika Gladys Johnson-Chukwunenye, has expressed deep shock and sadness over the death of Squadron Leader Ahamefule Aham Man-Ugwueje, a distinguished son of Abia State and one of the pilots of the ATR-42 aircraft, NAF 931, that crashed in Ondo State on Monday, 5th October, 2026.
Dr. Chukwunenye noted that apart from the collective loss to Abia State, the tragedy has a personal touch. The mother of the late officer, Mrs. Carol Man-Ugwueje, is an old girl of her alma mater, Federal Government Girls’ College, Gboko (FGGC), Class of 1982, while she herself is of the Class of 1981.
She recalled that the young officer had gotten married only two weeks before his death, in a wedding well attended by members of the FGGC Gboko family, fondly called “Gboko Babes”, including Dr. Rosemary Ngozi Obike Azodoh, Madam Onyowo Omoha and Alhaji Barr. Musili (SAN), who turned out to support their schoolmate. “Today, the young groom who just became a husband has died,” she mourned.
The former governorship candidate of the SDP in the 2023 general elections, now aligned with the Labour Party and the administration of Governor Alex Otti, whom she described as implementing most of what she had envisioned in her manifesto, said she is joining the Government and people of Abia State through the office of His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, not only to mourn this sad loss, but to call on the Nigerian Air Force to carry out a full investigation into the incident and to make public the maintenance history of the aircraft.
“It is not enough to say ‘what a sorry or sad loss’ and move on. The Nigerian Air Force must be made to appreciate the great loss and devastation that such crashes bring to families and to the nation,” she said.
Apostle Dr. Johnson-Chukwunenye, Founder and CEO of the Sanctuary Hand of Grace NgoziAbia Foundation (SHOGNA), also called for clarity on the support being provided to the bereaved families in this vulnerable period of pain, trauma and suffering.
She commiserated deeply with Mrs. Carol Man-Ugwueje, her schoolmate and fellow Gboko alumna, urging her to be strong in faith.
“However, I pray that the Lord God of all mercies and comfort will comfort you and your family [2 Corinthians 1:3-4]. I pray that He receives the soul of your beloved son and the souls of all the faithful departed to rest in peace with Him, in Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen.”
News Media Strategists
For: Apostle Dr. Ngozika Gladys Johnson- Chukwunenye, CEO
The SHOGNA Foundation & NgoziAbia 4 Team Alex Otti
