Postgraduate students of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Benin (UNIBEN) were thrown into mourning on Tuesday following the death of Squadron Leader Mamud I. Aburimen, pilot of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State.

Aburimen, who died in the crash while the aircraft was on its way from Benin to Lagos, was a Master’s student in the department.

It was gathered that the pilot was at the university last Friday for a make-up test organised by one of his lecturers.

His class representative, Desmond Odiah, spoke of their last conversation, describing Aburimen as a gentle and disciplined student who, despite the demands of his military duties, made efforts to attend classes.

Odiah said he and Aburimen had started the programme together from the Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) level before proceeding to the Master’s programme.

“We were currently doing our Master’s together, but we actually started from Postgraduate Diploma. We did PGD together for one year and, after the results, we went for Master’s together too.

“I became closer to him when I became the class representative for the Master’s programme. He was always reaching out to me privately about classes, anything that had to do with academics,” he said.

Describing Aburimen as a “perfect gentleman,” Odiah said the pilot was not confrontational and preferred to keep a low profile in class.

“He didn’t have issues. Every single time he was in the class, he was always at the back with his cap on. So he was a perfect gentleman that didn’t want issues, didn’t want any problems,” he said.

Odiah said Aburimen’s demanding military responsibilities did not prevent him from making efforts to keep up with his academic work.

“Regardless of his tedious work and responsibility, he was able to try as much as possible to attend classes. He was even around on Friday, this last week Friday, for a make-up test.

“I actually reached out to him about the test, so that was the last time we spoke. He told me that he was in school already for the make-up test. He was somebody who believed in due process,” Odiah said.

(Adapted from a Vanguard report)

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