Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru has on Friday, May 21 died at 54 in a plane crash at Kaduna state international airport.
The military aircraft was carrying the Chief of Army Staff and other top military personnel, with reports suggesting there was no survivor in the crash.
The aircraft reportedly crashed at the runway of Kaduna international airport at about 6 pm while it was raining heavily with about 12 people on board feared dead.
The country’s Air Force in a tweet confirmed that there was an accident involving one of its aircraft in Kaduna but did not go into details.
Read Also: President Buhari Replaces Service Chiefs
A statement signed by Edward Gabkwet, the force’s Director of Public Relations and Information reads;
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.
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.
Edward Gabkwet
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
21/5/21 pic.twitter.com/N01V2M6qUc— Nigerian Air Force (@NigAirForce) May 21, 2021
The officers apparently were on their way to Kaduna State ahead of tomorrow’s passing out parade of soldiers from Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria.
Read Also: Buhari Decorates New Service Chiefs (Photos)
Meanwhile, Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria, Akin Olateru, confirmed that a military plane, Beachcraft 350 aircraft, carrying Ibrahim Attahiru on Friday.
According to the AIB chief, the incident claimed all eight souls onboard including the Chief of Army Staff.
The development comes barely four months after he was appointed as chief of army staff in replacement of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.
This is the second time in a year that a military aircraft has crashed and one has gone missing.
Read Also: Air Force Confirms Death Of Seven Passengers In Abuja Plane Crash
On February 21, a Nigeria Air Force military plane, Beechcraft B350i, crashed close to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on its way to Minna, Niger State. The plane had an engine failure and all seven officers on board died.
Shortly after, on April 1, a Nigerian Air Force fighter jet which was on a surveillance mission in Borno State, in the North East, went missing.
Read Also: Missing Jet May Have Crashed, Two Pilots’ Whereabouts Unknown – Nigerian Air Force
The plane lost radar contact and disappeared “while on interdiction mission in support of ground troops. The mission was part of the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North East.”
Born on August 10, 1966, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru hails from Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
He was a member of the Regular Course 35 of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Before his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff, he was General Officer Commanding 82 Division of Nigerian Army, Enugu.
He was also a former Theatre Commander of the Operation Lafiya Dole.
May his soul rest in peace.
