Chief of Army Staff, General Ibrahim Attahiru, has died in a plane crash.
The COAS was killed along with three other generals, two Majors, a sergeant and four crew members, including the pilot and co-pilot, who were in the rank of Flight Lieutenants and two other non-commissioned AirForce officers on board the military Beachcraft 350 aircraft, which crashed at the Kaduna International Airport on Friday.
Details of the incident remained sketchy as of last night but a military source said the air crash occurred at the airport’s runway at about 6 pm.
Nigerian Air Force had earlier in a statement confirmed the crash involving one of its aircraft in Kaduna.
NAF did not, however, give details.
A statement signed by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the force’s 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.”
Also, Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria, Akin Olateru, confirmed the air accident.
Olateru, however, wrote on WhatsApp, “Beachcraft 350. 8 souls on board. Unfortunately all dead.”