The Chief of Army Staff,Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru has died in a plane crash in Kaduna.
The plane a Beechcraft 350 which carried chief of army staff his aides and crew members reportedly crashed on landing at the runway of the Kaduna airport.
The plane exploded and burned, leaving the 12 occupants any chance of survival,report says.
The Nigerian Air Force has now issued a statement confirming that there was a crash, but did not immediately say the personalities onboard.
“An air crash involving a Nigerian Air Force aircraft occurred this evening near the Kaduna International Airport. The immediate cause of the crash is still being ascertained. More details to follow soon,” spokesman Edward Gabkwet said.
Attahiru was appointed chief of army staff on January 26,2021 succeeding Tukur Buratai. He was 54.
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
The plane was the third military jet operated by the Nigerian Air Force to crash this year.
