UPDATE: How Army Chief, 10 Others Died In Plane Crash

Tragedy struck on Friday when the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, died in a plane crash on his way to Kaduna for an official function.

Credible sources said the incident happened about 6pm when a military Beachcraft 350 carrying him went down at the Kaduna International Airport.

Ten other people, including his principal officers, personal aides and the crew, also died in the crash.

They are Brigadier-General MI Abdulkadir; Brigadier- General Olayinka; Brigadier-General Kuliya; Major LA Hayat; Major Hamza; Sergeant Umar; Flt. Lt. TO Asaniyi; Flt. Lt. AA Olufade; Sergeant Adesina and ACM Oyedepo.

Confirming the incident in a statement last night, the Director of Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said, “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,” the spokesman noted.

Attahiru was among the service chiefs appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021.

A statement last night by the acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier- General Onyema Nwachukwu reads, “It is with a heavy heart that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) regrets to announce that this evening, about 1800 hours, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, in company of his entourage, who were on official trip from Abuja to Kaduna, were involved in air mishap.

“The unfortunate incident occurred after landing at the Kaduna International Airport due to inclement weather. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor has, therefore, directed that an Accident Investigation Board be constituted to unravel the immediate and remote causes 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 bedevilling our nation. The sacrifices of our dearly departed heroes will not be in vain.

“Meanwhile, the CDS urges all military personnel and their families to take heart and be condoled on this tragic loss. The CDS also reassures all Nigerians of the commitment and loyalty of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the constitution and government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as it continues to carry out its responsibilities.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and sadness over the air crash that claimed the top army general and others.

A statement issued on Friday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, noted that 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.”

The president, who commiserated with families of the deceased, the military and Nigerians in general, described them as “heroes who paid the ultimate price for peace and security in the land.”

Buhari, who prayed that God would receive the souls of the patriots, promised that they would not die in vain.

The President last night received briefing from the Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi (retd), on the plane crash that occurred in Kaduna.

President Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, confirmed this Friday night on his official twitter handle@BashirAhmaad.

“The Minister of Defence has briefed President @MBuhari on the plane crash that took the life of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and others,’’ he tweeted.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, were sighted in the pictures that accompanied the tweet, attending the briefing.

As at the time of filing this report, no statement had been issued on what transpired during the briefing on the ill-fated aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force.

‘Ill-fated plane couldn’t land at Kaduna Air Force Base’

It was not immediately clear what caused the crash, but an airport staff told one of our correspondents that bad weather, occasioned by heavy rain, which happened in Kaduna, could have contributed to the sad tragedy.

A military source who expressed shock about the incident also said the deceased army chief observed the Juma’at prayer before he hastily embarked on his journey.

“We prayed alongside him in the afternoon. We greeted him; he answered but moved on hastily,’’ he said.

Findings by Daily Trust last night indicated that the military plane couldn’t land at the Air Force Base in Kaduna, which is supposed to be their designated aerodrome.

However, it was not clear why the crew chose to use the Kaduna Airport runway.

Another source in Kaduna Airport told Daily Trust Saturday that the incident happened after the airport had already closed.

“The crash happened on approach at the Kaduna Airport. I really can’t explain what happened and why the pilot chose to use Kaduna Airport runway instead of the Air Force Base. But the Kaduna Airport closes by 6pm. Besides, activities in the airport have not fully resumed due to the recent strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), but investigation would reveal what actually happened,’’ the source, who pleaded anonymity, said.

An aviation expert, Captain Alex Nwuba, said the frequency of the crashes involving military plane called for increased collaboration between the military and civil aviation authorities.

However, he said this would depend largely on order from above.

On the ill-fated plane, he said it could be as a result of weather on approach or a navigational problem at the airport.

“We don’t know what happened at the moment until investigation is conducted and a preliminary report is released,’’ he added.

The Air Force operates independently of the civil aviation authorities. It also has its separate radar, distinct from the one operated by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

This is why investigation reports into military plane crashes is never made public.