Nigeria’s chief of army staff Ibrahim Attahiru killed in plane crash

The Nigerian Chief of Army Staff Ibrahim Attahiru has been killed in a plane crash in Kaduna, Peoples Gazette has learnt from military sources.
Mr Attahiru was appointed chief of army staff on January 26, succeeding Tukur Buratai. He was 54.
Mr Attahiru was killed alongside other military chiefs who were on the same flight, sources said. The presidency has already been briefed about the development.
The Nigerian Air Force has now issued a statement confirming that there was a crash, but did not immediately say the personalities onboard.
“An air crash involving a Nigerian Air Force aircraft occurred this evening near the Kaduna International Airport. The immediate cause of the crash is still being ascertained. More details to follow soon,” spokesman Edward Gabkwet said.
The plane was the third military jet operated by the Nigerian Air Force to crash this year.
President Muhammadu Buhari mourned the loss of Mr Attahiru and other military chiefs killed in the crash, saying an investigation would be conducted to establish its cause.
Opposition leader Atiku Abubakar also expressed his condolences, describing Mr Attahiru and his departed colleagues as heroes.
The Nigerian Army in a statement said the chiefs will be buried at the military cemetery in Abuja on Saturday.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Heading 4
Makinde’s candidate Adekanmbi will win Oyo governorship poll; but he should forget presidency: Primate Ayodele
The cleric’s prophecy came amid political calculations and realignments ahead of the 2027 general election.

States
ISWAP chief photographer, other media team members killed in sustained military operations
The spokesperson said several other key fighters sustained severe injuries as they fled under intense military pressure.

Heading 2
New Jersey registered 6,600 non-citizens as voters in error: Governor SherrillÂ
The governor attributed the error to a software glitch in the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission.

Abuja
Three Abuja security guards in court over alleged theft of scaffold pipes worth N1.8 million
The prosecutor said that the offence is contrary to Sections 79 and 289 of the Penal Code.

NationWide
Navy hands over two rescued victims of human traffickers to NAPTIP
Mr Folorunsho said that the handover was conducted by Forward Operating Base (FOB) BADAGRY, on July 19 at the agency’s Lagos Zonal Command in Ikeja.

States
Insecurity: Tinubu approves establishment of army battalion in Kwara
The battalion will be stationed in Omu-Aran, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area.





