It is reported that on the evening of May 21 in Nigeria, in the crash of a light transport aircraft Beechcraft B300 King Air 350i (tail number NAF20) of the Nigerian Air Force, the Chief of the General Staff of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, and another 10 or 11 people on board (including two pilots) died.
The Director, Defence Information, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement said, “It is with a heavy heart that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) regrets to announce that this evening at 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 an 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 cause(s) 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 combatting the security challenges bedevilling our nation. The sacrifices of our dearly departed heroes will not be in vain.”
