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Tag: COAS

  • Buhari Declares Monday Work-Free Day For Military Personnel

    Buhari Declares Monday Work-Free Day For Military Personnel

    President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast in all public buildings, facilities, and official residences across the country.

    The directive is with effect from Monday to Wednesday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, announced in a statement on Sunday.

    He explained that the presidential directive was to honour the memory and services of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, as well as the senior military officers and service members who died in a plane crash on Friday last week.

    Mustapha added that the President has approved Monday as a work-free day for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    The remains of the late Attahiru and 10 other officers who died in the plane crash in Kaduna were laid to rest on Saturday at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.

    Other officers and who lost their lives included Brigadier-General MI Abdulkadir, Brigadier-General Olayinka, Brigadier-General Kuliya, Major LA Hayat, Major Hamza and Sergeant Umar.

    Flight-Lieutenant TO Asaniyi, Flight-Lieutenant AA Olufade, Sergeant Adesina, and ACM Oyedepo also died in the crash

    Elsewhere, President Buhari spoke with Mrs Fati Attahiru, the wife of the late Chief of Army Staff, on Sunday evening.

    Details of his conversation are highlighted in the statement below signed by the President’s spokesman, Garba Shehu.

  • Borno journalists condole Nigerian army over death of COAS in Air crash in Kaduna

    Borno journalists condole Nigerian army over death of COAS in Air crash in Kaduna


    By Dauda R PamMaiduguri

    BORNO JOURNALISTS through  the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ,has conveyed its condolences to the  Government and people of Nigeria, over the untimely death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Attahiru Ibrahim, in an  AIRCRASH alongside other officers at Kaduna international airport.

    Others included the Acting Chief of Military Intelligence, Acting Provost Marshal (Army), Chief of Staff to COAS, his Aide-de-Camp and the Acting Deputy Director Finance in the office of the COAS, his Orderly, as well as the pilots and crew in the air crash which occurred on,May 21,  2021.

    According to the statement jointly issued by the NUJ chairman, Bulama Talba and secretary Mohammed Ibrahim, said  that members of the union received with great shock and sadness the death of the COAS and officers.

    The statement added that, “owing to the fact that the late COAS was a pillar of support to the Union with whom we had cordial working relationship during his tenure and previous sojourn as Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole” describing it as monumental loss to the Nigerian Army and the nation at large.

    The Union, the duo stated, shared in the great loss of this fine Gentleman General who was indefatigable a patriotic service chief, especially with his total commitment to end the insurgency bedeviling Borno State and the Northeast. 

    NUJ therefore, used the medium to   register its deep condolences to the Nigeria Armed forces and families of all the other officers and soldiers who lost their lives in the air crash and other various operations across the country and prayed God to grant the souls of the departed  perfect peace in paradise and the family the fortitude and courage to bear the monumental loss.

  • House postpones security summit in honour of late Army Chief, others

    House postpones security summit in honour of late Army Chief, others

    This is to inform the general public that the House of Representatives has postponed its national security summit scheduled to hold from Monday, May 24, 2021, in honour of the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 other military officers and men that died as a result of air mishap on Friday.

    The security summit will now kick off on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.

    The House shares in the grief and sorrow of the families of the late top military officers and prayed that the Almighty God will grant them eternal rest.

    It should be noted that the postponement became necessary as the late Army Chief was one of the major stakeholders that would have taken part in the summit.

    The House regrets any inconvenience the postponement may cause invited guests.

  • AIB begins investigation into military crash that killed COAS, others

    AIB begins investigation into military crash that killed COAS, others

    The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB -N) has commenced investigation into the crash which claimed 11 lives including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, on Friday in Kaduna.

    The bureau’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Tunji Oketunbi, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday.

    Oketunbi said the investigation has commenced as the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the Beechcraft 350 aircraft had been recovered.

    “Investigators will download and analyse vital information contained in the recorders at the AIB-N’s world class Flight Safety Laboratory, in Abuja.

    “The mandate given to AIB-N is based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the two agencies on July 1, 2020 covering areas of mutual assistance,” he said.

    Oketunbi said the investigation would be carried out diligently and professionally by its trained investigators.

    The Army Chief and his entourage were on an official trip to Kaduna when the aircraft was crashed at the Kaduna International Airport.

    All deceased passengers were later flown back to Abuja and buried at the military cemetery.

    However, Serika commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari and the nation at large.

    In a tweet, the Minister wrote: “With heavy heart we in Civil Aviation commiserate with the Nation & the C-in-C on the NAF air crash.

    “Investigation has commenced today in accordance with our recent MOU with the military. We pray Allah grant mercy to their souls & may the outcome prevent future occurrence.”

    Meanwhile, some Nigerians have called on constituted authorities to probe the cause of the mishap that killed Attahiru and the other officers onboard.

  • Final Interment For COAS Attahiru, 10 Others Hold In Abuja

    Final Interment For COAS Attahiru, 10 Others Hold In Abuja

    The remains of the late Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 other officers who died in a plane crash have arrived at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja for final interment.

    The officers died on Friday, in a Beachcraft 350 aircraft at the Kaduna International Airport.

    Their remains were on Saturday moved to the National Mosque and the Nigerian Air Force Protestant Church venues of prayers.

    The remains were later moved to the National Military Cemetary interment ceremony.

    The burial ceremony started around 2.50 pm with a profile of the late COAS read.

    A moment of silence was observed after which the fallen officers were honoured with a 21-gun salute.

    Dignitaries at the event include Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao; Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, among others.

    The Nigerian Army had earlier on Friday announced the passing away of its Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru.

    The sad event also claimed the lives of 10 other officers including the crew.

    The COAS was en route Kaduna from Abuja when the unfortunate incident happened.

  • Death Of COAS, 10 Others, Sad – Senator Wamakko

    Death Of COAS, 10 Others, Sad – Senator Wamakko

    By Muhammad Goronyo, Sokoto

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence and Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti Corruption, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, says the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and ten other Military Officers is sad and a big blow to the ongoing war on terror .

    The release by Wamakko’s media aide Bashir Rabe Mani quoted Wamakko as saying,”their demise is also certainly a formidable setback to the concerted efforts by the military and other security agencies, to combat the myriad of security challenges across Nigeria .

    ” The late General had really reenergized the war against insurgency, banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping and other related crimes .

    ” His demise at this critical time of the sustained efforts to tame these security infractions had really created a wide vacuum, too difficult to fill ,’” Wamakko, added .

    Wamakko, who represents Sokoto North Senatorial District recalled his various interactions with the deceased,saying,” he was a diligent, committed , pious, patriotic and a fine Military Officer .

    ” He would greatly missed and his tangible invaluable contributions in the war on terror would remain indelible .

    ” His death and that of other Officers that died along with him is a real national tragedy that will for long be remembered.”

    Wamakko also expressed his sincere and deep condolences to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief of Defence Staff , the Armed Forces and the families of the fallen heroes .

    He prayed the Almighty Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest , as well as give the bereaved families the formidable fortitude to bear the irreparable losses.

  • Nigerian Navy cancels 65th anniversary over COAS death

    Nigerian Navy cancels 65th anniversary over COAS death

    The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, has directed the cancellation of events slated for marking the 65th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy.

    This is contained in a statement by spokesperson for the Nigerian Navy, Commodore Suleman Dahun.

    Dahun said that the decision followed the sad demise of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and some senior officers  in the air crash of Friday, May 21 in Kaduna.

    “The CNS commiserates with the nation and offers the condolences of officers and ratings of the Nigerian Navy to Mr President.

    “The Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force as well as families of the departed.

    “May their souls rest in peace,” he said.

    He said that the death of Attahiru, a service chief, like his colleague in the navy, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, had put the army, navy, air force and the entire defence circle in sober mood. 

  • Nigeria’ll partner Cameroonian, Chadian soldiers to end insurgency —COAS

    Nigeria’ll partner Cameroonian, Chadian soldiers to end insurgency —COAS

    The Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, says his mission is to end insurgency and restore normalcy to the North-East and the entire country, adding that the troops will partner Cameroonian and Chadian soldiers to end the insurgency,

    Attahiru stated this while addressing troops on Monday at the Army Supercamp 1 Ngamdu, Yobe State.

    “The successes recorded recently by Operation Tura Takaibango shall be cashed in to bring an end to the insurgency. This war will be brought to an end soon. We shall do this in tandem with the forces from the Republic of Cameroon. We shall be bringing in the Çhadians to ensure the annihilation of the insurgents in the North-East soonest,” he said.

    The new COAS further said the challenges confronting soldiers on the frontline were surmountable and would be addressed with military effectiveness.

    “I have been briefed by your commanders about the lack of fighting equipment. I know of the lack of kits too. We are making tremendous efforts to get your boots, uniforms and protective gears in a couple of weeks.

    “I know the issue of overstay in the mission area has been a major problem. We will not do that almost immediately, but I can assure you that in a matter of months, we shall have a standard rotation plan that most of you will have to leave the theater of operations to be replaced by other soldiers to continue with the war. I see this war ending soon,” the COAS added.

    He disclosed that the army would provide support arms and logistics to the soldiers in order for them to fight efficiently.

    Attahiru also charged the troops to put in greater efforts in the fight against the Boko Haram fighters so that the successes already recorded would not be wasted.

    He asked the troops to await his command’s philosophy that would direct operations of the army in the counter insurgency war.

  • NAF inspects ongoing maintenance of Air platforms in Kaduna

    The Nigerian Air Force says it is scaling up operations in the north west and north central geo political zones of the country to address security concerns.

    Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar made this known after an operational visit to the Air Force Base in Kaduna.

    He thereafter inspected some ongoing research and development projects as well as a road project in the Base, being executed, Pro-Bono, by a construction firm based in Kaduna.

    Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar also visited the 431 Engineering Group Hangar, where work is ongoing on the Diamond aircraft and other Nigerian Air Force platforms.