The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, has died in an air crash along with some aides while on an official trip to Kaduna State on Friday evening.
Military sources have confirmed the crash
The military plane was said to have crahed at the runway of the Kaduna Airport around 6:00 p.m. while it was raining heavily.
The plane was said to have crash-landed on the runway, with all those on board said to have died.
The Nigerian Airforce also on Friday evening confirmed that its aircraft crashed in Kaduna but did not name casualties.
In a tweet by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, he said: “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,”
Attahiru was appointed Chief of Army Staff on January 26, 2021.
Born on 10th August 1966 in Doka, Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State, he graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy.
He commenced cadets training in January 1984 and was commissioned into the rank of Second Lieutenant in December 1986 as an Infantry Officer. He holds a Masters degree in Strategic Management and Policy Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy.
General Attahiru has held several appointments on the staff, instructional and in command during his military career. He had a tour of duty with the United Nations in Sierra leone as a Military Observer, where he facilitated United Kingdom military engagement, Operation BARASS in September 2000.
He was an Operation Officer and later Company Commander in NIBATT 19 ECOMOG Operations in Liberia. Also, he had the unique privilege of having commanded with distinction all through the chain of command in the Nigerian Army.
Prominent among these appointments are Commanding Officer 146 Battalion Nigerian Army (Operation HARMONY IV) in the Bakassi Peninsula, Commander 13 Brigade Nigerian Army (Operation PULO SHIELD), General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army. He was one time Theatre Commander Operation LAFIYA DOLE.
