Family, associates remember Captain Agbeyegbe 10 years after assassination

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

The Ogba country home of the late Captain Jerry Agbeyegbe, in Ikeja yesterday, evoked nostalgic feelings among families and associates, who gathered to remember the activist, ten years after he was felled by bullets from yet-to-be-ascertained assassins.

In a statement signed by Orighomisan Kay Agbeyegbe, on behalf of the family members, aviation industry players and associates held the Remembrance anniversary for the slain aviation martyr.

Agbeyegbe, who was described as a Champion of many firsts in the country’s aviation industry was the General Secretary of Nigerian Aviation Safety Initiative,( NASI), the aviation safety watchdog group.

The Delta-born Captain was felled by assassins’ bullet on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 along Oworonshoki axis of the Lagos / Ibadan Expressway.

While paying glowing tributes, stakeholders said he was critical about sore points affecting air safety in the industry and led a safety campaign in the industry in the late 1990s and 2004.

“He led many protests against the liquidation of the former national carrier: Nigeria Airways Limited and the take-off of Virgin Nigeria Airways.

“Captain Agbeyegbe, a recipient of numerous awards, like a superhuman racing against time to save the skies, had his eventful life cut short at the age of 49 years by yet to be apprehended assailants.

“We say a big thank you to all those who offered us a shoulder of comfort over the last ten years, and pray for us all that SAFETY FIRST becomes A WAY OF LIFE”, he stated.