It’s been twenty long years since that dark Saturday—October 22, 2005, when silence fell across Anioma land. The news came like a storm: a Bellview Airlines Boeing 737 had gone down near Lisa Village, Ogun State, taking with it the lives of all 117 souls on board. Among them was one of Anioma’s finest sons, Mr. Andrew Uwandi, a man whose life reflected service, loyalty, and quiet excellence.

Andrew, a proud son of Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, had dedicated his career to the Department of State Services (DSS). Those who knew him describe him as calm yet courageous — a man whose sense of duty ran deep, and whose humility never dimmed his brilliance. His passing wasn’t just a family tragedy; it was a wound that pierced through the heart of an entire community.

The Bellview Flight 210 was meant to be an ordinary journey from Lagos to Abuja. But just minutes after takeoff from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, tragedy struck. The aircraft crashed into the quiet fields of Lisa Village, leaving behind grief, unanswered questions, and memories that time has not been able to erase.

The cause of the crash was never conclusively determined, even after international investigators — including the FBI — were called in. For the families left behind, closure never truly came. Only the enduring ache of absence, the quiet moments of remembrance, and the haunting “what ifs.”

Among the 117 lives lost were professionals, parents, children, and dreamers — people who woke up that morning expecting to return home. The cockpit was manned by Captain Imasuen Lambert, an experienced pilot from Okada; First Officer Eshun Ernest, a Ghanaian whose wife Sarah was also on board; and Observer Pilot Sanni Steve from Kogi State. Also among the passengers was General Cheick Oumar Diarra, ECOWAS Deputy Executive Secretary, alongside other notable figures.

Yet, for the people of Ubulu-Uku, the name that echoes most painfully is Andrew Uwandi. His death left an emptiness that even two decades have not been able to fill. His father, his family, and indeed the Anioma nation continue to honor his memory — not in sorrow alone, but in gratitude for a life that touched many with integrity, dedication, and love.

Twenty years may have passed, but for Anioma, it still feels like yesterday.
The grief may have softened, but the memory of that bright soul remains vivid — a reminder that behind every statistic lies a story, a heartbeat, and a legacy.

May the soul of Mr. Andrew Uwandi, and all who perished that day, continue to rest in eternal peace.
Amen.