The late Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru
By Our Reporter
President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, have expressed sadness over the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru.
Mr Attahiru, a lieutenant-general, died along with seven other top military officers, in a plane crash while on an official trip to Kaduna on Friday.
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that a crash occurred but did not provide any details.
But separate statements by the presidency and Mr Malami, who is also the Minister of Justice, prayed for the repose of Mr Attahiru’s soul in first official statements confirming his death.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is deeply saddened over the air crash that claimed the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and other military officers,” a statement signed by a presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina read.
Mr Buhari, who described Mr Attahiru and others who died in the crash as the nation’s heroes, also condoled with the deceased persons’ families.
“The President condoles 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.
“While praying that God receives the souls of the patriots, the President says the crash ‘is one mortal blow to our underbelly, at a time our armed forces are poised to end the security challenges facing the country.’,” the statement also read.
It added that the President “pledged that the departed would not die in vain.”
