President Muhammadu Buhari has wailed over the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, which occurred in the evening of Friday from a plan clash, describing his demise as a big blow to the country.
Speaking through his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the president condoled with the Attahiru family for the huge loss.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is deeply saddened over the air crash that claimed the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and other military officers.
“The President condoles with families of the deceased, the military, and Nigerians in general, describing them as heroes who paid the ultimate price for peace and security in the land.
“While praying that God receives the souls of the patriots, the President says 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 statement read on Friday night.
Attahiru was appointed the Chief of Army Staff following the change of Service Chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari in January.
He was the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigerian Army before his appointment.
Buratai had appointed Attahiru the commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, the code name for the special military operation against insurgent group Boko Haram in Northeast Nigeria on May 2017.
Buratai had given him the task of capturing Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau either dead or alive within 40 days of his appointment.
However, Attahiru was redeployed few months later following reversals in the war against terror under his command.