ABUJA — It was a black Friday for Nigerians when the news filtered that a Nigerian Air Force Beechcraft 350 with registration NGR203 from Abuja to Kaduna carrying Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru and others had crashed and no survivor of the ill-fated plane.
The incident occurred around 6pm and those on board include principal officers, personal aides of the COAS and the crew.
They are: Lt Gen I Attahiru, Brig Gen MI Abdulkadir, Brig Gen Olayinka, Brig Gen Kuliya, Maj LA Hayat, Maj Hamza and Sgt Umar while the crew members are, Flt Lt TO Asaniyi, Flt Lt AA Olufade, Sgt Adesina and ACM Oyedepo.
Credible sources said the incident happened about 6pm when a military Beachcraft 350 carrying him went down at the Kaduna International Airport.
A statement last night by the acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier- General Onyema Nwachukwu reads, “It is with a heavy heart that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) regrets to announce that this evening, about 1800 hours, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, in company of his entourage, who were on official trip from Abuja to Kaduna, were involved in air mishap.
“The unfortunate incident occurred after landing at the Kaduna International Airport due to inclement weather. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor has, therefore, directed that an Accident Investigation Board be constituted to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the unfortunate accident.
“As we pray for the repose of the souls of our gallant and committed Chief of Army Staff and other personnel on board with him, the AFN solicits the support and understanding of all Nigerians in the face of this tragic incident.
“We wish to state that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains resolute in combating the security challenges bedeviling our nation. The sacrifices of our dearly departed heroes will not be in vain.
“The CDS urges all military personnel and their families to take heart and be condoled on this tragic loss. The CDS also reassures all Nigerians of the commitment and loyalty of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the constitution and government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as it continues to carry out its responsibilities.”
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and sadness over the air crash that claimed the top army general and others.
A statement issued on Friday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, noted that the crash “is one mortal blow to our underbelly at a time our armed forces are poised to end the security challenges facing the country.”
The president, who commiserated with families of the deceased, the military and Nigerians in general, described them as “heroes who paid the ultimate price for peace and security in the land.”
Buhari, who prayed that God would receive the souls of the patriots, promised that they would not die in vain.
In the meantime, President Buhari last night received briefing from the Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi (retd), on the plane crash that occurred in Kaduna.
President Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, confirmed this Friday night on his official twitter handle@BashirAhmaad.
“The Minister of Defence has briefed President @MBuhari on the plane crash that took the life of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and others,’’ he tweeted.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, were sighted in the pictures that accompanied the tweet, attending the briefing.
By Hassan Umar Shallpella
It was a black Friday for Nigerians when the news filtered that a Nigerian Air Force Beechcraft 350 with registration NGR203 from Abuja to Kaduna carrying Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru and others had crashed and no survivor of the ill-fated plane.
The incident occurred around 6pm and those on board include principal officers, personal aides of the COAS and the crew.
They are: Lt Gen I Attahiru, Brig Gen MI Abdulkadir, Brig Gen Olayinka, Brig Gen Kuliya, Maj LA Hayat, Maj Hamza and Sgt Umar while the crew members are, Flt Lt TO Asaniyi, Flt Lt AA Olufade, Sgt Adesina and ACM Oyedepo.
Credible sources said the incident happened about 6pm when a military Beachcraft 350 carrying him went down at the Kaduna International Airport.
A statement last night by the acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier- General Onyema Nwachukwu reads, “It is with a heavy heart that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) regrets to announce that this evening, about 1800 hours, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, in company of his entourage, who were on official trip from Abuja to Kaduna, were involved in air mishap.
“The unfortunate incident occurred after landing at the Kaduna International Airport due to inclement weather. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor has, therefore, directed that an Accident Investigation Board be constituted to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the unfortunate accident.
“As we pray for the repose of the souls of our gallant and committed Chief of Army Staff and other personnel on board with him, the AFN solicits the support and understanding of all Nigerians in the face of this tragic incident.
“We wish to state that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains resolute in combating the security challenges bedeviling our nation. The sacrifices of our dearly departed heroes will not be in vain.
“The CDS urges all military personnel and their families to take heart and be condoled on this tragic loss. The CDS also reassures all Nigerians of the commitment and loyalty of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the constitution and government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as it continues to carry out its responsibilities.”
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and sadness over the air crash that claimed the top army general and others.
A statement issued on Friday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, noted that the crash “is one mortal blow to our underbelly at a time our armed forces are poised to end the security challenges facing the country.”
The president, who commiserated with families of the deceased, the military and Nigerians in general, described them as “heroes who paid the ultimate price for peace and security in the land.”
Buhari, who prayed that God would receive the souls of the patriots, promised that they would not die in vain.
In the meantime, President Buhari last night received briefing from the Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi (retd), on the plane crash that occurred in Kaduna.
President Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, confirmed this Friday night on his official twitter handle@BashirAhmaad.
“The Minister of Defence has briefed President @MBuhari on the plane crash that took the life of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and others,’’ he tweeted.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, were sighted in the pictures that accompanied the tweet, attending the briefing.
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