She told me she’s coming back but never did –Victim’s mother

“She told me Mama, I am coming back, but she never did. Dana has done me well oh. I have lost my queen. They have cut her life short. You people working with Dana, if you know an airplane is not good, don’t fly it. Please pray that God would receive the soul of my daughter,” these were the heart rendering words of Vivian Atangakak’s mother, as she wailed uncontrollably.
The fourth in a family of six was one of the air hostesses on board the flight. Born to the late Nigeria Air Force official, Effiong Atangakak in 1983, Vivi, as she was fondly called was obviously the light of the family.
She was described as a very generous, lovable and selfless person. So, it was with glee, that she looked forward to her wedding coming up on July 28, 2012. All preparations were in full gear and everything, up to the smallest details were already taken care of. A cultural troupe from Akwa Ibom, had already been slated to perform on that day. She had also concluded plans to join her fiancé living abroad with her 16-year-old daughter, to start another vista in her life.
But that day would never come, as the light had dimmed for the celebrant. Vivian Atangakak, from Oron in Akwa-Ibom State. She was among those whose lives were cut short by that ill-fated Dana crash.
At their No. 6, Sadiku Street, Ogundele Oshodi, the mood was very sad. The gloom and pain was palpable.
Perhaps, if she had known, she would have avoided the flight that day. Sick and having called in sick on Saturday, she was put off flight, but called in the next day to say she was fit to fly. That was the last they saw of her. What hit the family later was devastating.
According to Vivian’s elder brother, Mike, “last week, she came back from work quite shaken and scared for her life. With shaky voice, he recalled her narrating her close shave with death on that same plane, as it developed a landing gear problem.
“When she came back from that flight, she was so scared. We prayed and consoled her. We even put up her picture on Black Berry to thank God for her life. If we had known that this was what would happen, we would have stopped her from flying that day, especially, as she was very sick. She was not a lazy person that was why she opted to fly,” he said.
Mike described his sister as a very religious person, noting that she would always prayed in front of the family’s ‘Sacred Heart’ altar before leaving for work. “We spoke all through Saturday on phone. That morning, she prayed before the altar before embarking on that journey,” he recalled.
Apart from relocating abroad with her husband after their wedding, she also dreamt of working with Qatar Airline in London, and had concluded an interview with them. On how they heard the news, Mike said their brother- in-law, who is also a pilot called to intimate them about the development.
“When I heard the news, I tried her number but it was indicating network busy. I called my mother and asked her if Vivian was back, but she said no. I didn’t want her to suspect anything because she is hypertensive. Since we confirmed her death, the family’s peace has been shattered. We pray for God’s strength at this time,” he said sadly.
Vivian’s family was very unhappy about the way the airline had been handling the issue. He told Daily Sun that no official of the airline had visited the family, neither were they told what the plans were.
“Dana has not been able to properly address the families of victims. When we insisted on knowing the true situation of things, they said there were plans to conduct a DNA sample to identify the body. We all became angry because how logical is that when they don’t even have the data of any family members. It was later they took us to the morgue to see the bodies. They were burnt beyond recognition. I have only seen criminal burnt that way. To even think that my sister went through such agonising process is horrible.”
He is demanding for justice, not just for his sister but for every other passengers aboard the flight. “All we want is justice. My sister can’t die just like that. When I went to their office before it was shut by the Federal Government, they were selling tickets to passengers. And Nigerians were busy buying. It’s really sad. It is not enough to grind the airline. No amount of money can replace Vivian, but it is culpable homicide and they should pay for it. How can they allow a plane with landing gear problem to fly? This type of death has to be stopped by the government. It can be stopped.”
As the reporter was about to leave the deceased’s residence, the fiancé walked in with his parents and some elders. The whole family broke down on seeing the young man who was simply referred to as Dele.
For Chioma Ikebuso, Vivian’s neighbour, she would be forever missed by everyone one, especially her. She described the deceased as a very good person who usually took care of her baby when she was not around. “How else would I describe her? She was simply a wonderful person. The void she left would never be filled.”