A Nigerian Air Force aircraft has crashed near the Kaduna International Airport Friday evening, killing the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others.
The immediate cause of the crash was yet unknown.
It was gathered that the COAS and other top Military officers were on board the ill-fated aircraft.
A Statement by Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information however was silent on the the passengers in the crashed Aircraft.
According to locals, the I’ll fated plane had exploded and got burnt completely when it touched the ground.
“All the crew members and passengers numbering 11 were feared dead,” a source at the airport told journalists in Kaduna.
The list of those on board include:
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 graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986.
He commenced cadet training in January 1984 and was commissioned into the rank of Second Lieutenant in December 1986 as an Infantry Officer.
He holds a Masters’s degree in Strategic Management and Policy Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy. He attempted National Defence College, Kenya.
General Attahiru 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.
