The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday rebutted the reports on the circumstances that led to the death of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.
In a statement on Friday, The former Defence chief was provided with adequate security guard, NAF said in a statement.
It vehemently condemned the insinuations that the former defence chief was not provided with adequate security personnel.
NAF decried the rumours that Badeh’s driver, whom it said was also shot during the incident, has lost his life.
According to the Air force, contrary to the claims, it t Badeh was provided with the full complement of personal staff and security personnel equivalent to his status as former defence chief and a four-star general in the military.
The Air Force added that his driver was alive and receiving treatment at one of its hospitals.
It, however, warned Nigerians against circulating rumours capable of interfering with the ongoing investigation into the death of the former defence chief.
Badeh was killed on Tuesday by gunmen who attacked him while he was returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi Road.
He served as the 18th Chief of Air Staff until his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff by former President Goodluck Jonathan in January 2014 and retired a year after.
The statement reads in full,
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has noted, with dismay, some erroneous reports and comments in the media regarding the unfortunate incident that led to the death of former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, on 18 December 2018. Some of these reports erroneously state that the driver of the late former CDS, who was also shot during the incident, is dead. Other reports allege that adequate security was not provided for the deceased Air Chief Marshal.
The NAF wishes to state categorically that nothing could be further from the truth. Firstly, all are please requested to note that the driver is alive and recuperating extremely well at one of our NAF Hospitals. Secondly, Air Chief Marshal Badeh has always been provided with the full complement of personal staff and security personnel commensurate with his status as a former Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), CDS and a 4-star general in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
As mentioned by the CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on 19 December 2018, the NAF is working closely with other relevant security agencies to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of the former CDS with a view to ensuring that the perpetrators of the heinous act are brought to justice. Substantial progress has already been made in the ongoing investigation and details would be communicated at the appropriate time.
While appreciating the overwhelming show of support received from well-meaning Nigerians during this trying time, the NAF wishes to request that the spreading of misinformation about the incident should stop forthwith as this could have adverse effects on the conduct of ongoing operations.
