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By Moses Akaigwe
Do you remember Detimbir Chia? He was the 13-year-old village boy whose bravery in 2006 saved five lives after he witnessed the crash of a Nigerian Air Force Dornier 228 aircraft in the Ngokugh Hills of Benue State, with 18 passengers on board.
For his heroism, Detimbir deservedly received a standing ovation at The Sun Awards the following year, where he was honoured with one of the event’s most coveted categories.
Today, nearly two decades later, the uplifting news is that much has changed—culminating in the transformation of that young hero into a Nigerian Army officer.
One of the passengers Detimbir helped rescue from the Dornier 228 wreckage, Gen. Nuhu Bala Angbazo, later mentored him through his education up to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna. He has since been commissioned as an officer in the Nigerian Army.
The once starry-eyed Mbakunu village boy is now Captain Detimbir Chia. And, in a heartwarming turn of events, he recently tied the knot with his beautiful bride, Kimberly, on Saturday, April 4, 2026, with Gen. Angbazo still standing proudly by his side.
Many prominent personalities, including former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, attended the church wedding and reception in Makurdi, the state capital.
After witnessing the ceremony, Gen. Angbazo recalled, in an emotional statement, the events of that fateful day 20 years ago and how God used young Detimbir to save his life and four others.
His testimony: “On September 17, 2006, I survived a tragic Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash over the Benue Valley. In that moment of uncertainty, help came from the most unexpected place, a 13-year-old boy from Mbakunu in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, Detimbir Chia.
“Untrained and unprepared, yet courageous, he played a critical role in saving my life that day. I made a decision then: such courage must not go unnoticed. I took responsibility for his future and supported his journey into the Nigerian Army.
“On April 4, 2026, I stood in honour as that same young boy—now Captain Chia—got married. I am proud of the man he has become.
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“I was also glad to share this special moment with distinguished personalities, including former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam.”
Detimbir became a hero at just 13 on that fateful day in 2006. He was farming in his village, Mbakunu, when he witnessed the Nigerian Air Force Dornier 228 crash into the Ngokugh Hills with 18 passengers on board.
The curious boy ran to the crash site, discovered the wreckage, and used a mobile phone belonging to a surviving officer to call his father. Together, they initiated the rescue of the five survivors.
The twin-engine aircraft had taken off from Abuja en route to Obudu, Cross River State, carrying 15 passengers and a crew of three. The senior officers were scheduled for an official military engagement, but the mission ended in tragedy.
An Air Accident Investigation report revealed that the pilots began their descent in poor weather conditions before the aircraft impacted hilly terrain near Vandekya, about 29km northwest of Obudu. Visibility at the time was reportedly poor due to a low cloud ceiling.
By the time rescue efforts led by Detimbir and his father were concluded, Angbazo and four others were listed as survivors—though with injuries—while 13 others perished in the crash. Among the casualties were 11 high-ranking officers and two crew members.
Like Gen. Angbazo, the management of The Sun Publishing Limited deemed the boy’s extraordinary courage worthy of recognition. Thus, in his honour, the “Hero of the Year” category was introduced at the next edition of the annual Sun Awards.
To ensure his presence at the 2007 ceremony, Detimbir and members of his family were flown from Benue and accommodated at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, the venue of the event.
As the young hero stepped forward to receive his award, he was greeted with prolonged standing ovations from an audience deeply moved by the story of a rural boy who saved lives at a crash scene.
The outpouring of admiration was so overwhelming that guests spontaneously announced donations to the child hero, which eventually totalled about N10 million that night.
To many familiar with the story, Detimbir appeared destined to be the divine instrument through which Gen. Angbazo and four others survived that tragic crash.
It was a divine assignment—one that has ultimately transformed his own life for the better.
