The Nigerian Air Force on Thursday announced the promotion of Aircraftman Bashir Umar, who returned a missing parcel containing €37,000 found at Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
He was promoted two levels, from Aircraftman to the rank of Corporal, a promotion that would have taken him ten years to achieve.
Mr Umar, who is a member of the NAF Mobile Air Defence Team deployed at the airport on security duties, found the parcel during a routine patrol with some of his colleagues at the airport’s Hajj Camp Market on July 16 and with a telephone number he found on it, he reached the owner, one Alhaji Ahmad, and handed the parcel to him.
Speaking at a special event organised to honour the airman at Air Force Headquarters, Abuja, Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, an Air Marshal, said Mr Umar displayed an uncommon act of integrity by returning the money to the owner.
The air chief further said that Umar was the only non-commissioned officer in the history of Air Force to have an aircraft detailed to convey him with his parents to Abuja, showering encomiums on his parents for giving him the values that had earned him the accolade.
Aside decorating Umar with his new rank, Mr Abubakar also gave him a letter of commendation.
In his response, Mr Umar expressed appreciation to the Air Force authorities for honouring him with promotion and commendation, adding that returning the money after he found was part of the discipline he got from home, religion and in service.
