Nigeria’s Chief of Army staff, Attahiru, other aides die in plane crash
Nigeria’s military says Chief of Army staff Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other officers were killed Friday in a plane crash, the military said late Friday.
The military officials were en route to the capital, Abuja, after making an official trip to Kaduna state.
There was no immediate information provided about what may have caused the plane crash, but the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Brigadier Gen. Mohammed Yerima said more details would be released soon.
The names of the other military officials who died were not made public.
It was however learnt that the crashed plane was a military Beachcraft 350 with eight persons, including the Chief of Army Staff on board.
All eight souls onboard the air craft perished in the crashed at the airport’s runway about 6 pm.
Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria, Akin Olateru, confirmed that the eight souls died onboard.
“Beachcraft 350. 8 souls on board. Unfortunately all dead,” Olateru wrote in a WhatsApp note.
The U.S. diplomatic mission to Nigeria called Attahiru’s death “a tremendous loss to Nigeria” on Twitter, adding: “We join Nigerians in mourning the tragic loss of life from today’s plane crash.
Attahiru had been appointed to the position earlier this year by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“All of them are heroes who paid the ultimate price for peace and security in the land,” Buhari tweeted.
Attahiru was appointed the Chief of Army Staff following the changes of service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari in January.
He was the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigerian Army before his appointment.
Buratai had appointed Attahiru the commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, the code name for the special military operation against insurgent group Boko Haram in Northeast Nigeria on May 2017.
Buratai had tasked him with the task of capturing Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau either dead or alive within 40 days of his appointment.
However, Attahiru was redeployed few months later following reversals in the war against terror under his command.
