By Adesuwa Tsan
365Daily – The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru, has died in an plane crash which occurred in Kaduna State.
7 other people, including his aides, were also killed in the crash which occurred on Friday, May 21, 2021.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) have confirmed the incident which took place at 6pm at the Kaduna International Airport.
The plane was a military Beachcraft 350 aircraft.
NAF said while confirming the news in a statement signed by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Edward Gabkwet , via a post on Twitter: “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.”
Attahiru was appointed Chief of Army Staff on January 26, 2021.
Born on 10th August 1966 in Doka, Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State, 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.
He was one time Theatre Commander Operation of LAFIYA DOLE (the Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency Outfit in North Eastern Nigeria).
It is on record that he brought relative stability to the region with the surrender od several Boko Haram combatants.