EXCLUSIVE: ‘He Screamed With Joy When He Got Admitted Into NDA’ – Family Mourns NAF Officer Who Died In Ondo Crash

The uncle of Flight Lieutenant Tarila Lokoja Lazarus, one of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel involved in the recent aircraft crash, has recounted the emotional journey that saw the late officer gain admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) after failing in his first attempt.

Maxwell Lazarus Benjamin, who spoke exclusively with LEADERSHIP, on Thursday, described Tarila, fondly called “Tari” by family members, as a humble, calm, focused and academically brilliant officer who was deeply committed to his Christian faith and military career.

According to him, Tarila first applied to the NDA after completing his university education at Niger Delta University (NDU) and obtaining a master’s degree, but was unsuccessful.

Benjamin, who became a father figure to Tarila following the death of his father, Lokoja Lazarus, said he personally assisted him with the application process.

“Before, he went to apply for his military school NDA. The first one, he went for the first time, he did not succeed. And when he took the form, he sent the form to me to sign some place to stand as a father.

“Then I took the form to Bayelsa State Police Command, for them to also do their own part of the form. Then I sent it back to him. Well, that first attempt, he did not succeed.”

Benjamin said Tarila did not give up after the unsuccessful attempt, choosing instead to wait another year before applying again.

“And he now waited for another one year again. Then he went for the second attempt, and he succeeded.”

He recalled the moment he received the news that Tarila had been successful in his second attempt, saying it brought immense joy to the family.

According to him, Tarila was in Lagos when a family friend and Air Force officer, David Akoloh, contacted him from Abuja after seeing Tarila’s name among those selected.

“He said, he saw Tarila Lokoja. He said, whether your brother’s sons apply for this. I said, yes.

“I said, please, can you tell me, how do I get the thing? So he now sent a link to me. I sent the list of the successful members of that time. And I now called Tari.

“I said, Tari, congratulations. He said, what? What? I said, you have succeeded this time. He screamed, and we were all happy.”

Benjamin said he subsequently directed Tarila to meet Akoloh in Abuja, where the officer assisted him with the next stage of the process before he proceeded for military training.

Recounting one of the most memorable moments in Tarila’s military career, Benjamin said the late officer later invited him to represent his deceased father at his commissioning ceremony.

He said he travelled to Abuja with Tarila’s elder sister, Waton Lokoja Lazarus, before proceeding to Kaduna for the ceremony.

“At the time of their graduation, he called me and said so…so time is their graduation day, and he asked me to come and represent as a father to commission him.

“So on that great occasion, I went with one of his elder sisters, Waton Lukoza Lazarus. Both of us went to Abuja.

“From Abuja, we proceeded to Kaduna Air Force Base. Then one of our brothers, who was also at Kaduna, received us.”

Benjamin recalled that former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo commissioned the officers during the ceremony at the Kaduna Air Force Base.

“So, it was Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo that commissioned them on that fateful day at the Kaduna Air Force Base. Then I now crowned him as a father.

“To crown him as a first rank flying officer. It was a wonderful journey.”

Benjamin said Tarila was not only dedicated to his military career but was also highly regarded by his colleagues and senior officers.

He said a military delegation that visited the family to break the news of the crash on Tuesday afternoon described Tarila as a diligent, humble and intelligent officer.

“And when the military sent their delegation to us, to bring the news to us, even the officer, Anyanoso, I’ve forgotten his rank, but he told us that, he said, Tari is one of the highest in the Nigerian military, that is a very diligent officer, very humble and very smart.

“He said he missed someone that was very dedicated to the service of the military in Nigeria.”

Benjamin described Tarila as “a very humble man”, “a very focused person” and “a very smart” individual, adding that he was also academically gifted.

He said the family had faced significant challenges following the death of Tarila’s father, with his mother raising the children and supporting them through prayer.

“Because the father died, left them behind. The mother was the one there for them, struggling with them, encouraging them with prayer and everything. And the mother is a very devoted Christian woman in a Deeper Life Christian Church.”

Benjamin said the family was devastated when news of the crash reached them, noting that they never expected to receive such a tragic report.

He disclosed that Tarila was a Flight Lieutenant at the time of his death and was due for promotion to Squadron Leader.

“He was also due for another promotion. He was to go to squadron leader. Before this unfortunate incident occurred.”

According to him, Tarila was survived by his mother and siblings, including his two elder sisters, Edisemi and Waton, and younger sisters, Imomoemi and Sarah.

He said the news had particularly devastated Tarila’s mother, who had raised the children after their father’s death.

“When the news was broke to us, the mother was very heartbroken.”

Benjamin appealed to the Federal Government to honour Tarila’s service and support his family, particularly his mother.

He said the late officer served the country with dedication and deserved recognition for his sacrifice.

“Tari is a promising son to us and to our family. So, at this point, I think we lost a very illustrious son. We will never have somebody to fill that vacuum.

“But the government, I think, should remember the family. You know, he was serving the nation with all of his heart. So, I think they should reward him. They should give him a reward for that regard.

“They should remember the mother, especially the mother and the family.”