United States of America has joined Nigerians in mourning the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others who died when a military aircraft crashed in Kaduna on Friday, May 21, 2021.
Lieutenant General Attahiru and his team were flying to Kaduna from Abuja for an event when their plane crashed.
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This is contained in a state by the US Mission in Nigeria on Friday, which reads;
We join Nigerians in mourning the tragic loss of life from today’s plane crash. The death of the Chief of HQ Nigerian Army Staff, Lt. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru is a tremendous loss to Nigeria, and to his loved ones.
During this difficult time across Nigeria when security and peace is so needed, we offer our deepest sympathy to the family of General Attahiru and to the families of all those who perished.
During this difficult time across Nigeria when security and peace is so needed, we offer our deepest sympathy to the family of General Attahiru and to the families of all those who perished.
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— U.S. Mission Nigeria (@USinNigeria) May 21, 2021
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari described the crash as a ‘mortal blow’ to the efforts of the Armed Forces to confront rising insecurity in Nigeria, while promising that the officers won’t die in vain.
The President also condoled with families of the deceased, the military, and Nigerians in general, describing them as “heroes who paid the ultimate price for peace and security in the land.”
Read Also: Breaking: President Buhari Expresses Sadness Over Death Of Lt. Gen Attahiru, Others
Attahiru was appointed Army chief in January to replace the retired Tukur Buratai.
He had made numerous promises to improve the military’s effectiveness, especially in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the north east region.
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.”
