I know you’re in Heaven shinning down. I woke up crying this morning and knew I had to leave a tribute. I didn’t know you directly but your passing hit me hard. Fly high captain and send my love to my grandad 

Akpama, hmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!! Short of words. Rest on brother, May God’s mercies be upon you

Though, I don't know you , I got to know of your death through instagram.
 I pray you rest in peace, your story has challenged me.
I have learnt to always be nice, selfless, focused, and always try to put a smile on peoples faces.
From all I have read...you simple were...A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW....May God comfort your family and loved ones.

Thanks for impacting in my life.....  

REST IN PEACE PETER!!!! 

Peter and gang on the deck preparing for our ethnic picnic/cookout.  Was a great day.....  What a great smile on Peter's face.   Always happy and positive was Peter.
Your smile will brighten heaven even more!!!!!!!  Till we all meet again.... keep smiling upon us Peter.  

I met Peter Early 2011 and came up with one of my many ideas to make a Television show in Lagos called "Hustle" so I recruited my long time friend Ese Okhagbare of WHPH media in lagos and we set out to Lekki for a photoshoot; and on this shoot peter will be taking pictures of me a musician and Ese will be documenting him to be featured on one of the episodes as a Lagos hustler "Lagos Photographer". So I sat on the old Canoe along the shore and started to improvise a song "lagos photographer, taking me a picture, make it beautiful this sunday afternoon" that was kind of the soundtrack for the shoot that day. I think after we finished we hanged out at a small eatery near the location and then said our good byes.

I was working with an advertising agency and had access to a studio so I recorded the song and recruited another friend Toba aka Ocube to do a verse, he did two verses and I did a hook and mentioned Peter bello's names as the First character of many we expected to film.

Well life happened and I have since relocated to the U.S never finishing the documentary. Ese still has those footages from that shoot. Peter did send me my pictures and were great. I introduced him to another musician friend "Nayo Soul" and he did some good pictures for her too.

While in the U.S I just barely kept intouch with Peter but I knew he was doing ok with his updates on social media. I didn't know he had gone ahead to be a pilot. I just remember him as a photographer.

Just the day before the 12th of August on my way from work in Atlanta Georgia in the U.S, I was singing the song to my self and thinking that I need to get back with Ocube and do something with the song. And behold the next day I saw on Debolalagos facebook wall that peter was involved in that crash.

I called Ese and Toba to let them know what had happened we just hoped he made it on that day.

I got intouch with Toba and asked him to do a 3rd verse dedicated to Peter he never met. I have been trying to reproduce the entire song and mix it myself for the last few days and have decided to share it now. I do not know what this will mean to or for any of the people who cared and loved peter, but this is our one encounter with Peter Bello, So this is how we remember him. If Ese ever finds those footages, we will be more than Glad to share and release them for whatever purpose they can serve. I sadly don't have a lot of my own pictures from the shoot, just a few I have seen.

I have edited the 3rd verse written a few days ago by Toba a.k.a O cube along with the original chorus; along with some pictures of Peter. Anytime we do do something with the original song we will surely dedicate it to the memory of Peter Bello, THE LAGOS PHOTOGRAPHER.

While Peter, Hood, and Adelia (all 3 were in flight school in Florida) were visiting in August of 2013.  We had a great afternoon at the Pittsburgh Pirate Baseball game.  After the game we went to the casino and then to a great Pittsburgh eatery.  Memories of great times with friends and family in pictures.  If only we could do it one last time...   Thanks Peter for being a part of our lives.  YOU will be in my heart for all time!  For being you Peter, THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!

Finest! I remember the very day I gave you that nickname. 

I just wish I wasn't in a hurry to get off the phone the last time we spoke. I'm so lost of words. I'm still here praying it's all a dream and hoping you would come out of your hiding place saying it was a prank!   Can't get over the shock. 

Peter, you touched lives, you left a great story on earth, you achieved so much at age 26. 

I love you so much Peter and you will forever remain in my heart. 

FINEST, keep flying with the Angels darling.......  You will forever be missed and I'm praying for your parents and sisters.  Love you Peter x 

Peter came up to Freeport (Pittsburgh) Pa USA for Christmas 2013, as he did not have enough time to travel home and back between his flight school break.  We had a great Christmas because of Peter's presence.  So very blessed that I have this memory of his sharing it with us.  

Peter came to Freeport (Pittsburgh) Pa. USA for Christmas 2013.....  we had a nice snowfall.  Peter enjoyed going outside and helping in the shoveling.
 

Dear Peter Bello,
It's been ages since i called you by your real name. Writing this tribute means acknowledging the truth, something i've been avoiding for the past couple of days. I have to, i need to..So here it goes, don't laugh!

I first met Peter Bello think 2006, we had grown up in the same town but we never met. It was during our A-Level Programme and absolutely none of us wanted to be there. That entire year of boarding school was a hilarious series of events worthy of a netflix sitcom. There were just six of us, but we felt like an army.

Peter was daring and mischievious so we got along pretty well then. But even at that point in time, at the age of 17, Peter knew exactly what he wanted in life. He was bold yet sometimes vulnerable. He/We did everything to stand out from the crowd. From getting school daughters to rub toothpaste in our hair to get "dada" to taking university brochures and labelling photos as "my room" "my babe". Peter was unique and my God sometimes he could be a brat. But he was OUR brat, we loved him and no day was complete without one of his episodes.

He displayed a fierce sense of protection for his family. And even though we were fond of teasing, everyone knew, you can make fun of Peter, but you'll see what those big hands can do if you tease anyone of his family members. So when teasing we kept it simple and just made fun of his head alone, cos none of the guys wanted to be headbutted for talking about Peter's sisters.

A year went by quickly and Nyong, Peter, Orok, Onome, Ebi and I all parted ways and set on our seperate paths. Out to face a brave new world, knowing we would never share a classroom or hostel the same way again. We kept in touch as much as we could. Every other christmas we local south-south boys would come back home to Calabar for the Carnival and share our fun memories.

It was during this University & Post-University Period that i observed the transformation of our dear pal. Peter had a vision for his life, how he wanted to look, how he wanted to sound and who he wanted to be. Peter perfected his body and his mind to perfection. Those University brochures we were fantasizing about in school; he now featured in them. Those models we saw in the music videos feeling themselves, Peter Bello disciplined himself so they couldn't come close him in appearance.

Gone was the bold yet vulnerable boy in the long sleeve uniform. Here was PJKruel, reformed, renewed. A man with a purpose, with a drive and passion to defeat mediocrity. A sense of discipline for everything that was passionate to him. Nyong and i always joked that it was difficult to keep up with Peter. His instagram was like a travel catalogue and his facebook photos like snippets from Men's Fitness Magazine.

Regardless of all God had blessed him with, he was humble. He was sophisticated but very very humble. He was truly a kind person and his sense of humour was never tarnished by the seriousness of his goals. When he smiled...ladies you know you had to smile back..

Peter owned life, gradually making a legendary status in everything he got involved in. And whenever his name came up i would be like yeah of course i know pjkruel..then i would famz some more.

Some people have wondered if he took too much of a risk becoming a pilot. I personally laughed so hard when he told me. I was like, just like that. From Chem Eng to being a Chopper Pilot, Haba! How na!? And in the twinkle of an eye lo and behold i browse on Facebook and Peter had successfully finished flight school. There was no limit to Peter Bello, coming from a small town he had covered more land than most i know. It only made sense that Peter would conquer the skies too. When he put on that tight flight shirt i would smile and be like "peter had to find the tightest shirt sha" lol.

Peter Bello lived his life knowing that nothing could limit him, and he could be as good as the best that ever did what he planned to do. I celebrate this Man because it takes courage to follow your dreams. I respect him because his family was sacred to him and nothing came before them. I love this man because even when he didn't have a genuine reason to, he cared so much.

In my search to find closure on why Peter was taken from us, i opened up the bible, i knew i had a copy somewhere. I stumbled upon the book of Ecclesiastes, apparently written by the Quester (King Solomon?). He had it all, and had seen it all. You can read the passages yourself, but this is what i got from the book.

"We all share the same fate, the righteous & the sinful, the believer & the unbeliever. No one can tell what time we will return to the dust from which we came from, neither can we predict that our righteous acts will save us from an early departure. The important thing is to live your life to the maximum and follow your dreams. It is my opinion that when you pass on your spirit and thoughts remain in some sort of Limbo, continously replaying all your pleasent memories on repeat, 10 years seeming like 1 second. You remain immortalised by your friends and family with the memories you made and the impact you had. If you lead a life with no impact, no purpose, no zest, that's exactly how your story will be told when we return to the earth. So live, love, make memories and follow your dreams, you wont get a second chance to try".

So when i think about our Pal Peter Bello i can't deny he is a legendary fellow. He lived a sophisticated lifestyle (and captured it on camera perfectly), he travelled land and conquered the skies. He brought joy to our lives and laughter into our hearts. Like i said, Peter Bello Owned Life.

I have been thinking of a way to immortalise my pal. A way to ensure that time doesn't make the memories fade away. That everyone remembers that there was such a legend that hailed from our small town. I thought of finding some way to build a statue of him like Hercules and erect it in Le Chateau. Lol i'm sure he would have liked that. But the amazing thing is, i have no idea how to begin on that kind of project and the one person i could have called, that would have a perfect solution, was Peter Bello.

I am honored to have known you Peter Punta. You Legend of a boy!
Love..Gabby Lunta

I first saw Peter on April 3, 2015 in Calabar when my baby brother, Ujunwa Akwiwu, went with family to officially ask for Ajoke's (Peter's sister) hand in marriage. All I recall was that he had his camera around his neck, calmly and coolly capturing the special memories of that day. Both families had a great time... I knew nothing else about him. Not even that he was a pilot like Uju or that he also worked for Bristow.
On the day of the crash, Uju pops up on our family chat sounding worried that there'd been news of a Bristow ''chopper down'' around the Lagos axis. I didn't understand the worry, some family members, who like me didn't know about Peter being a pilot didn't get it either.He then tells us his brother-in-law had a scheduled flight out of Lagos that day.  I remember asking ''How?'' A pilot? All that at just 26?...'' From that evening we've groaned, mourned and asked questions. We've had to painfully stay on God's word which says that in all situations we must give thanks. Thankfully, Peter's life's strides are undoubtedly, concrete reasons to stay thankful for despite our grief. It is indeed a thing of pride for the Bello and Nyambi families to know that out of their loins came a young man who had a firm hold on his life's direction at only 26 years - the age at which over average of our Nigerian youths are groping around without direction, self confidence and capacity. Peter, even in death, paints a picture of hope rising for the young and old alike!
Therefore, it is worthy to stay thankful for having come across this remarkable one-of-a-kind-being, a gift to humanity, someone special to everyone. The thousands of tributes say it all. 
Father, the all-knowing God, thank You for the gift of Peter, thank you for making his life one full of example for his world, for using him to restate that really and truly, our country has gems within. Thanks for giving him parents such as Peter and Thelma Bello - who did a great job at raising a ''game changer''.
Father, just as promised, send the Holy Spirit to comfort them, his sisters as well as his extended family beyond. Lord, continue to use this experience to remind us to number our days and make the most impact with the gift of life given to us. Help us not to mourn like they that are without hope because we know that Christ in us is the hope of glory. Thank You Lord for your comfort which is assured.
To our wife Aj, we stand by you and your family.
To 'angel' Peter, the enigma, the legend, I salute you even in death.  Rest on in perfect peace.
From Chisom Ajaero 

 I'm totally speechless at your departure.still can't believe your gone but I know ur in a better place Peter. Ever-smiling and full of life,always ready to help, Peter you will forever be in our heart.May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace... Rest on brother 

It is WELL!!!!

I met Peter in 2011, Sheffield UK, during our MSc. He had a very striking personality - there was never a dull moment with Peter. I have never met anyone with so much energy.

We became closer while writing our dissertation, during which time he shared his life dream with me. I must say at 26, he pretty much laid his hand on everything he spoke about, and excellently so - modelling, photography, sky diving, piloting, getting married etc. Never have I met anyone who have so pursued their dreams with so much passion.

I will miss Peter, his life is a challenge to me. In his life and death, he has become my motivation. What more can I say.........Peter is a LEGEND!!!

And he will live on in my heart.

Peter came to visit us for a week in Pittsburgh, Pa USA   So ironic how I took this picuture of Peter on August 12th 2013 (2 years to the day of his death) during a great picnic with family and friends.  Love this pic...His eyes full of fun and camera in hand!
Oh my dear friend Peter, If I only knew that 2 years later on this date, God would have taken you from us....  My heart bleeds with tears for your family.  Fly with God Peter!!!

Peter could not make my daughter and son-in-laws wedding in Pittsburgh, Pa USA, as he was preparing for exams while in flight school in Florida. (October, 2013)
He made this short video and sent it to me and asked that I pass it along to them. 

I'm so blessed to have met a great guy like you Peter... you were a true friend that only comes along once in a lifetime.  I cannot except this death of yours, but rest assured, you will always live in my heart until the end of time.  You are now an Angel of God!   Gods speed.... until we meet again Peter Bello, may you rest in peace and in the arms of God!  

I have only few words. I deeply believed in you and in your passion and talent for photography. 

I just have to share this chat of ours from last year. It was my earnest desire to have you shoot great pictures for the biggest magazines in the country. 

You will never be forgotten. 

Peter Bello - Pilot, Engineer, Model, Photographer. One would struggle to find anyone else with such a portfolio. Still kind of shocked Peter is gone. People seem to believe one needs to live till metusela to touch so many lives, you have defnitely changed that perception. You achieved so much within your short stay and inspired so many. May the good Lord grant you perfect peace forever and grant your family, we friends and well wishers the fortitude to bear this big loss. You would never be forgotten. Fly with the Angels now would you !!!

Rest in peace P. K. B,though u left too soon, u will forever be missed. May the good Lord give ur people the strength to bear this great loss. Take heart, it can only get better!