by S’ola Filani

Friends of the late Nigeria Air Force pilot, Wing Com­mander Chimda Hedima, who was caught and be­headed by Boko Haram after his plane went down in enemy territory, have eulogized him for his gallantry on their various social media pages.

They have also given a vivid account of how the Air Force pilot, who was born in 1975, spent his last days.

Hedima’s colleagues on different social media on Saturday said Hedima, crashed the aircraft into an area where Boko Haram militants were and killed at least 63 of the insurgents.

Writing on his Facebook page, Ronald Ekene Monye noted that several thousand Nigerians had previously been killed by the insurgents, but described Hedima as a “fine officer and gentleman, fa­ther, brother and son who came from a family of warriors.” He berated the Boko Haram sect whom he dismissed as blood sucking demons.

Another friend posted: “I’m still in deep shock! Not only did I have the privilege of being with him at the Air Force Mili­tary School, Jos, for three years, we bumped into each other a couple of times after he became a fighter pilot and one thing was unmistakable about him – he was still a very humble and de­cent chap. I have not been able to function properly since I saw the news on a blog. Na wa! Why is it always the good ones that go out like this.”

Still another post, headlined, “R.I.P”, a friend wrote, “We Ex- Junior Airmen have lost a great brother. Nigeria has lost a war­rior and I can’t begin to imagine what his family is going through right now. Only God knows best sha.”

A friend of the family im­plored Nigerians to pray for the family: “Fb friends and family please pray for our friend and brother. My heart aches for my dear friend.So sad!!! Pray for my Hedima family. We are praying for you Chim.”

Also on the Facebook page of the Nigerian Army Support Group, his friends wrote, “It is with deep regret that we announce the death of a true Nigerian hero, Wing Commander Chimda Hedima. This man was a hero of the highest order.

“On September 11, 2014, a company of Nigerian Army soldiers attempted to overrun a Boko Haram position in Borno. Due to the low altitude, the plane suffered significant damage from the terrorists’ gunfire.

“Wing Commander Hedima and his partner realised that they were going to crash.

“They, instead of hurriedly parachuting to safety within Nigerian controlled territory, chose to embark on a mission to destroy as many terrorists and their weapons as possible. They parachuted out at the last minute but not before ensuring that their plane slammed into a column of terrorists in which 63 Boko Haram members were killed as a result of their bravery.

“Wing Commander Hedima was captured. On September 12, he was killed.

“He chose Nigeria, he chose all of us. We cannot forget him. Please share his story. His name should be known by everyone.

“Rest in peace Commander, we are grateful. May you find eternal peace.”

These postings were triggered by a video released by Boko Haram last Friday, in which it claimed to have shot down an Air Force jet and beheaded the pilot.

However, in response to the claim, the Air Force authorities speaking through Air Commo­dore Dele Alonge dismissed it.

“The man shown in the Boko Haram video is not our officer. The picture of a man be­headed in the video is superim­posed. Our plane is still missing and we are looking for it. Boko Haram is just making unfounded claims.” He told the AFP in an inter­view