Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ibrahim Attahiru, has died in a plane crash that occurred in Kaduna.
A Statement signed by Edward Gabkwet, the force’s Director of Public Relations and Information says an air crash involving one of the COAS aircraft occurred on Friday evening.
It 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 airport official told Daily Trust that the plane caught fire before it crashed.
“The plane caught fire before it crashed…,” said the official, adding, “the weather may have contributed to the crash. It rained terribly in Kaduna today.”
According to a military source, after the army chief observed the Juma’at prayer in Kaduna, he was said to have, with seven other people, boarded the aircraft, which later crashed.
Before being appointed as the nation’s Chief of Army Staff on January 26, 2021, Attahiru had been Commanding Officer 146 Battalion Nigerian Army (Operation HARMONY IV) in the Bakassi Peninsula, Commander 13 Brigade Nigerian Army (Operation PULO SHIELD), General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army. He was one-time Theatre Commander Operation LAFIYA DOLE
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.
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