The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, died in an air crash along with some aides while on an official trip to Kaduna State on Friday evening.
The military plane reportedly crashlanded in the vicinity of the airfield at Kaduna airport around 6:00 p.m. while it was raining heavily, leading to the death of all those on board.
He reportedly died along with 10 others, who were in the plane.
Confirming the crash, the Nigeria Air Force Public Relations person, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet tweeted, saying “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.”
However, an official statement on the details of the crash is being expected from authorities.
Attahiru was appointed chief of army staff on January 26, succeeding Tukur Buratai. He was 54.
In July 2017, was sacked as the theatre commander of the joint task force for failing to capture the leader of the Boko Haram terrorist group, Abubakar Shekau, by his predecessor, Tukur Buratai.
The 21st chief of Army Staff was born on August 10, 1966 in Doka, Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State. He was a graduate of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji and Nigerian Army School of Infantry.
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 and several other academic qualifications, including Masters of Science in Human Resources Management and Development form Salford University in the United Kingdom.
Late General Attahiru has held several appointments on the staff, instructional and in command during his military career, including 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.
