Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has ordered an investigation into the air crash that claimed the lives of the 21st Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others on Friday.
He said the Accident Investigation Board (AIB) is expected to unravel the immediate and remote cause(s) of the unfortunate air mishap.
Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja, saying the unfortunate incident occurred after landing at the Kaduna International Airport due to inclement weather.
“The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has therefore directed that an Accident Investigation Board be constituted to unravel the immediate and remote cause(s) of the unfortunate accident.
“As we pray for the repose of the souls of our gallant and committed Chief of Army Staff and other personnel on board with him, the AFN solicits the support and understanding of all Nigerians in the face of this tragic incident.
“We wish to state that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains resolute in combating the security challenges bedeviling our nation. The sacrifices of our dearly departed heroes will not be in vain,” he said.
Irabor, however, urges all military personnel and their families to take heart and be condoled on the tragic loss, just as he reassured Nigerians of the commitment and loyalty of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the Constitution and Government in the discharge of its responsibilities.
Meanwhile, burial of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and six other officers, has been slated for Saturday in Abuja.
Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, said the event would commence with prayers at the National Mosque and National Christian Centre, Abuja by 10am respectively, and interment would take place at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja by 1pm.
Yerima, who had earlier announced the death of Attahiru and 10 others in an ill-fated NAF aircraft near Kaduna International Airport on Friday, said the plane was en route Abuja-Kaduna before the crash.
Born on 10th August 1966 in Doka, Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Gen. Attahiru began his cadets training at Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) 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 NDA/and has held several appointments on the staff, instructional and in command during his military career.
He had a tour of duty with the United Nations in Sierra Leone as a Military Observer, where he facilitated United Kingdom military engagement, Operation BARASS in September 2000. He was an Operation Officer and later Company Commander in NIBATT 19 ECOMOG Operations in Liberia.
Also, he had the unique privilege of having commanded with distinction all through the chain of command in the Nigerian Army. Prominent among these appointments are 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
Attahiru had been exposed to leadership and professional development programmes at globally renowned institutions and was also at the National Defence College, Kenya for the National Defence Management and Security Studies Course and at the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Special Forces Academy Shijiazhuang-Hubei Province, China for the Basic and Advanced Special/Operations Commando Forces Courses.
He had undertaken leadership and security policy course at the prestigious Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University USA, Graduate School of Media and Communication, Agha Khan University of Nairobi, Bournemouth University Disaster Management Center and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy.
Attahiru had several honours and awards to his credit, and was a highly decorated officer with UNAMSIL Medal, ECOMOG Medal, Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguish Service Star, Grand Service Star, Corp Medal of Honour, Command medal, Field Command Medal and Field Command Medal of Honour.
