COAS Ibrahim Attahiru determined to finish Boko Haram before he was killed — Zulum

Before he was killed in a Nigeria Air Force (NAF) plane crash, late chief of army staff (COAS) Ibrahim Attahiru was determined to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

This is according to comments credited to Borno governor Babagana Zulum.

Zulum stated this when he paid final respects to the late COAS at his burial in Abuja on Saturday.

Attahiru died alongside 10 military officers when a NAF Beachcraft 350 aircraft crashed at the Kaduna International Airport on Friday.

The Defence Headquarters had said bad weather was responsible for the crash of the NAF jet.

Attahiru was buried at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja on Saturday afternoon in accordance to Islamic rites.

At least 20 military officers have lost their lives in the last three months in three crashes involving NAF jets, Punch reported.

“The commitment of the late chief of army staff to the fight against Boko Haram was very obvious,” Zulum, who governs a state made infamous by Boko Haram attacks, said in a statement.

“Within the short time he served, he had been to Borno on multiple occasions, meeting operational commanders and troops at battle fronts.

“In all his interactions, he regularly motivated troops. The people of Borno thank him and all our gallant fallen heroes for their unquantifiable service to Borno and rest of Nigeria,” Zulum said.

President Muhammadu Buhari on January 26, 2021 appointed Attahiru to succeed Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai as COAS.