President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep sadness 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.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
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 Nigerian armed forces are poised to end the security challenges facing the country.
The President pledged that the departed would not die in vain.
Earlier both Nigerian Army spokesperson Brigadier General Muhammed Yarima and counter part of Nigerian Airforce Air Comodor Edward Gabkwet in a two separate statements confirmed the incident.
The incident was said to have occurred at about 6 pm while it was raining heavily.
The officers apparently were on their way to Kaduna State ahead of tomorrow’s passing out parade of soldiers from the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria.
The aircraft, with registration number, 5N-R203 was billed to land at the Nigerian Airforce Base in Mando area, before it diverted and attempted to land at the Kaduna Airport.
