The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, has died in an air crash. There were seven other souls in the ill-fated aircraft.
The late Attahiru was said to be on an official mission to Kaduna when the incident happened.
The Nigeria Air Force in a statement by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the incident.
The statement read:
“An air crash involving a @NigAirForce aircraft occurred this evening near the Kaduna International Airport.
“The immediate cause of the crash is still being ascertained. More details to follow soon.”
The Aircraft is identified as Beachcraft 350, crashed at the Kaduna International Airport on Friday.
It claimed the life of the Army boss and seven others on board.
It was learnt that the ill-fated aircraft crashed at the runway of the airport around 6pm.
Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria, Akin Olateru, confirmed that the eight people on board lost their lives.
“Beachcraft 350. 8 souls on board. Unfortunately, all dead,” Olateru wrote in a WhatsApp note.
Attahiru along with Maj. Gen. Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea lrabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, the chief of Naval Staff along with Air Vice Marshal Isiaka O. Amao, the current chief of Air staff were confirmed as service chiefs on March 2, 2021.
Before his appointment, he was the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu.
He was a member of Regular Course 35 of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
He served as the Theatre Commander of the Operation Lafiya Dole until 2017.
The General has several honors and awards to his credit. He wae a highly decorated officer with UNAMSIL Medal, ECOMOG Medal, Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguish Service Star, Grand Service Star, Corp Medal of Honour, Command medal, Field Command Medal, and Field Command Medal of Honour.
