9th June, 2012
The Nigerian Navy has confirmed that Commodore Datoru Abi-Kalio was among the 153 persons that lost their lives in Sunday’s DANA air crash at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.
In a press release issued in Lagos , the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ola-Sa’ad Ibrahim, said the death of Abi-Kalio was a great loss to the Nigerian Navy.“On behalf of the naval family, we condone with the family and pray that God grants the family the fortitude to bear the loss.“Late Abi-Kalio served the Nigerian Navy diligently; he was a hardworking, dedicated and trustworthy officer, “ he said.
According to the release, signed by the Director, Naval Information, Commodore Kabiru Aliu, late Abi-Kalio was until his death, the Director of Combat Policy and Tactics, Naval Headquarters.Abi-Kalio,aged 53, was once the Commanding Officer of NNS AGU; Chief Instructor, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji; and Director of Doctrine, HQ.He was survived by a wife and children.
Meanwhile, Yusuf Alli, a former long jumper, on Saturday said that he was touched by the concern shown by Nigerians over the fears that he was killed in Dana plane disaster.
Alli told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in telephone interview in Lagos that he had received no fewer than a thousand phone calls seeking to confirm the report.NAN reports that the Dana Airline crashed on June 3 on Iju- Ishaga Area of Lagos State, which claimed the lives 153 passengers and other residents. “Someone by the name of Yusuf Alli was listed in the flight manifest throwing sports lovers and administrators into panic,” he said.
Ali said he was happy to be alive since he was not the one listed on the manifest of the ill-fated plane.“I was receiving calls for about three days; they said they saw a Yusuf Alli’s name in the newspapers.“The Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) called me, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State and sports administrators called me.“Even those that I did not expect to call me at all called. I was truly touched by their act. God bless them all.’’Alli said that he had to switch off his mobile phones for three days because the calls kept coming and he got tired of receiving calls.He, however, condoled with the families of the deceased, saying God in his infinite mercy would give them the fortitude to bear the loss. “I pray to God to give the families of the bereaved the fortitude to bear this loss.”