By Emeka Okafor
The Chief of Army Staff, General Ibrahim Attahiru, has been reportedly killed in a plane crash involving an aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Airforce in Kaduna.
Attahiru, who was said to be retuning from Kaduna, died alongside seven other senior military officers in the crashed aircraft.
A statement by the Nigerian Air Force confirmed the plane mishap but did not disclosed if the army chief died in the accident.
The statement signed by the Force’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Edward Gabkwet, “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.”
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But several military sources have confirmed the dead of Attahiru and other persons on board the crashed military plane.
He was said to have observed the Friday the Juma’at prayer in Kaduna with other military personnel.
The late Attahiru was appointed Chief of Army Staff on January 26, 2021 by President Muhammadu Buhari
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.
