ABUJA: Nigerian military chief, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, during an official visit to the northern state of Kaduna, has been killed in an air crash along with 10 other officers.
A statement issued by the army of the African country stated that ‘the plane crashed on Friday due to inclement weather’. As for now, Nigerian authorities didn’t reveal any further information about the accident but Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima of the Nigerian army said that more details would be released soon. Furthermore, the identification of the deceased military officials has also been uncertain for now.
The COAS was enroute Kaduna from Abuja on Friday, 21 May, 2021 when the unfortunate incident happened.
Details of the sad incident and burial arrangements will be communicated soon.
Mohammed Yerima
Brigadier General
Director Army Public Relations
21 May 2021— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) May 21, 2021
Earlier in Jan, incumbent Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari appointed Attahiru as chief of army staff amid the shake-up in top military brass. Reports suggest that he appointed a late general to combat the outlawed terror Boko Haram.
The Nigerian government, which comes to power in the year 2015, has been under pressure over lawlessness and security problems in Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest economy.
A statement issued by the president’s office stated ‘the crash was one mortal blow to our underbelly, at a time our armed forces are poised to end the security challenges facing the country.
This crash is one mortal blow to our underbelly, at a time our Armed Forces are poised to end the security challenges facing the country. My condolences to the families of the deceased, the entire military, and all Nigerians. The deaths of these officers will not be in vain!
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) May 21, 2021
Meanwhile, the US diplomatic mission to the country also mourns the demise of the army chief. ‘A tremendous loss to Nigeria. We join Nigerians in mourning the tragic loss of life from today’s plane crash’, the statement added.
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