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PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has pledged that yesterday’s death of the chief of army staff Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other military officers would not be in vain indicating that the tragedy will spur him to step up the fight against insecurity and terrorism.
Yesterday, Lt General Attahiru and the aides were going to Kaduna to attend the passing out parade of soldiers from the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria when their plane crashed. Their aircraft, was due to land at the Nigerian Air Force Base in the Mando area but was diverted to the Kaduna airport, amid heavy rainfall.
In what appears to be a technical malfunction, the plane crashed killing all the 11 people on board. Others who died in the crash include Brigadier Abdulkadir, Brigadier Olayinka, Brigadier Kuliya, Major Hayat, Major Hamza and Sergeant Umar, along the plane’s technical crew Flight Lieutenant Asaniyi, Flight Lieutenant Olufade, Sergeant Adesina and ACM Oyedepo.
Responding to the tragedy, President Muhammadu Buhari said he is deeply saddened over the air crash and condoles the families of the deceased, the military and Nigerians in general. He described the dead as heroes who paid the ultimate price for peace and security in the land and prayed that God would receive the souls of the patriots.
President Buhari said: “The crash is one mortal blow to our underbelly, at a time our armed forces are poised to end the security challenges facing the country.” He pledged that the departed would not die in vain.
