Tanko Mohammed
Nigeria Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Late Lt.- Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, and his encourage have been buried on Saturday in Abuja instead of being guests at the passing out parade of Regular Recruit Intakes of the Depot Nigerian Army.
Attahiru who would have clocked 55 in August and seven others were on their way to Zaria enroute Kaduna in Northwest Nigeria to attend the ceremony when the Beachcraft 350 plane they were travelling with crashed near the Kadun Airport on Friday, May 21, 2021.
The death of soldiers forced Depot Nigeria Army to postpone the passing out parade of 80 Regular Recruit Intake (RRI) which had been slated to hold today (Saturday, May 22, 2021) with the late Chief of Army Staff as the Reviewing Officer and Special Guest of Honour.
The late Chief of Army Staff was also expected to commission a new state of the art Depot Nigeria Army Medical Centre in Zaria, Capt. Audu Arigu, Assistant Director Army Public Relation, Depot Nigeria Army, Zaria, said and that they were awaiting further directives from Army Headquarters.
The Depot was established in 1924 for the training of recruits of the Nigerian army.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, has also directed the cancellation of events slated for marking the 65th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy.
The Navy said that the death of Attahiru, a service chief, like his colleague in the navy, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, had put the army, navy, air force and the entire defence circle in sober mood
The burial on Saturday, May 22, 2021 of the officers started with prayers at the National Mosque and the Protestant Church both in Abuja before their interment at the National Military Cemetery.
Those buried at the National Military Cemetery along Attahiru are Brig.-Gen Abdurahman Kuliya (Chief of Military Intelligence); Brig-Gen M. Abdulkadir (Chief of Staff to the COAS); Brig Gen Olatunji Olayinka (Army Provost Marshal); Maj. L. A. Hayat (ADC to COAS); Maj. Hamza; and the Ordely, Sgt. Umar.
The crew members were Flt. Lt. T. O. Asaniyi; Flt. Lt. A. A. Olufade; Sgt. Adesina; and ACM Oyedepo.
The obsequies came less than six hours after the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, ordered the constitution of an accident investigation board to probe the air mishap.
A statement by the Director, Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, said Irabor, ordered Accident Investigation Board to carry out the probe to determine the cause of the accident.
Irabor said that the air mishap happened due to heavy downpour and inclement weather claiming the lives of top commanders, but that the Army remained resolute in combatting security challenges facing Nigeria.
“The sacrifices of our dearly departed heroes will not be in vain,” the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), said and reassured Nigerians of the commitment and loyalty of the army to the constitution and government and would continue to carry out its responsibilities.
Late Attahiru was one of the Service Chiefs that were appointed in January 2021 in a restructure carried out in the military by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The re-jig in the army was caused by mounting pressure on the President to reposition the security apparatus in order spark up the military to face resurgence of terror, banditry and secession violence.
Before the accident, the team led by Gen. Attahiru was in Kaduna to coordinate military action against bandits and to boost the morale of troops.
According to analysis, Attahiru belongs to Army Course 21 and died as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on the 21st day of the 21st year of the 21st Century, and on Friday. What a date!”
More reactions have continued to trail the death of Attahiru, as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) described the incident as shocking.
Mr Adekunle Omo-Aje, National Chairman, CNPP, said this in a statement in Kaduna on Saturday that Attahiru had been leading the fight against terrorism at the frontline since his assumption of office as Chief of Army Staff.
“His commitment has been total, he kept marching on in spite of many challenges facing the nation, no doubt, Nigeria has lost a fine officer and gentleman.’’
The President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, said : “This incident is saddening, coming at a time there is a fresh momentum in the nation’s war against insurgency, banditry and other violent crimes.’’
He said Attahiru and others gave their lives for the security and unity of Nigeria and would be remembered as heroes in the history of the country.
The House of Representatives Committee on Army said the incident was shocking, described late Attahiru an energetic officer, who was committed to improving the security of the country, especially prosecuting the war against insurgency.
The COAS. It said had a rolled-out plan on how to defeat Boko Haram and bring under control, other security threats, which the country faced in recent years.
The U.S Mission in Nigeria joined in mourning the tragic loss, saying the incident came at the difficult time across Nigeria.
The Mission said in a tweet that the incident happened when peace and security is needed most and said: “we offer our deepest sympathy to the family of Attahiru and to the families of all those who perished.’’
“In spite of these devastating loss, US in Nigeria remains confident that Nigeria Defence leaders will continue to strive towards peace and security for all Nigerians,’’ it said on Saturday.
