Ibrahim Attahiru: Nigeria’s army chief dies in Kaduna plane crash
Seven officers, including the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, along with four crew members, were killed in Friday’s military plane crash.
The crash occurred weeks after Attahiru advised lawmakers to investigate his predecessors if they wanted to know how huge amounts of money earmarked for procuring weapons were spent.
The lawmakers had summoned the late chief of staff over the rising spate of insecurity despite huge military spending under former COAS Tukur Buratai and those who came before him.
Although Attahiru did not name anyone in his reponse, he did suggest that past military leaders would be in the best position to explain how those funds were spent.
House speaker Femi Gbajabiamila also recently urged the Muhammadu Buhari government to give Attahiru and the other service chiefs more money to buy more weapons in other to boost Nigeria’s war on Boko Haram terrorists and bandits.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it has begun an investigation into the cause of the crash in which Attahiru, his aides and others were killed on Friday.
Attahiru, who was only appointed alongside the other service chiefs on January 26, 2021, died in the crash alongside 11 others on Friday en route to Kaduna state.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Gabkwet Edward, stated this in a release on Friday.
He said, “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.”
Other military officers who died in the crash include Brig Gen MI Abdulkadir, Brig Gen Olayinka, Brig Gen Kuliya, Maj LA Hayat; Maj Hamza; Sgt Umar.
