Immediate past Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador Designate, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, says the late Chief of Army Staff was at the verge of making the nation proud before his tragic end.
Buratai in his tribute to late Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, said he was making tremendous progress in the counterinsurgency and counterterrorism efforts when the tragedy occurred.
He described the incident as tragic to all Nigerians and peace-loving people, adding that Attahiru and the officers that died with him were top-level officers whose records of service were meritorious.
According to him, this unfortunate incident deeply saddens me as it robbed us of the services of the Chief of Army Staff who had left no one in doubt as regards his determination to succeed in the various military operations across the country.
Buratai however, urged the armed forces to close ranks and make sure that the legacy of the officers lives on by consolidating on the gains made in the various operations.
According to him, they gave their lives in the line of duty and patriotic service to the nation.
Similarly, The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has expressed shock over the death of late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and other military personnel.
Oyeyemi disclosed this in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Bisi Kazeem, yesterday in Abuja.
He described the unfortunate incident as saddened and a great loss to the nation at this critical period when the Armed Forces was committed to winning the war against insurgency in Nigeria.
He prayed for the reposed of the souls of the gallant officer, COAS and other officers as well as cre, who died in the ll-fated crashed NAF aircraft
He described Attahiru as a disciplined, forthright, committed and professional military officer, who was unwavering in fighting and winning the war not only against insurgency but returning peace to the nation.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has prayed for wisdom as President Muhammadu Buhari selects a new Chief of Army Staff to replace General Ibrahim Attahiru who died in a plane crash in Kaduna last Friday.
The northern Nigerian socio-political organisation stated this in a condolence message to the president over the death of General Attahiru and 10 other military officers who died in the accident.
The ACF, in a statement signed by its chairperson, Audu Ogbeh, said the security situation in Nigeria “calls for the best, nothing but the best.”
The ACF said the death of the gallant officers on active service came as tragic news to all members of the forum.
“We condole with members of their families in this their hour of distress and emotional trauma. Only God can alleviate the pains they are facing now.
“We similarly pray for the other gallant members of the armed forces who lost their lives,” the statement said.
On its part, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari over the death of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt- Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and other military personnel.
This is contained in a condolence letter signed by the NMA President, Prof. Innocent Ujah, and Secretary, Dr Philips Ekpe, made available to newsmen in Abuja.
NMA prayed for the peaceful repose of the victims and prayed God Almighty to grant their families the fortitude to bear the losses.
In similar vein, The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a pressure group, has called for investigation into the circumstances surrounding last Friday’s plane crash involving the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and others.
The President of PSM, Mr Bestman Okereafor, said this in a statement in Enugu yesterday.
“We are imploring President Muhammadu Buhari to set up an independent body to investigate the circumstances surrounding the airplane crash involving the COAS and others,’’ Okereafor said.
He also condoled with the President and the Nigerian Army over the incident.
He also extended the group condolence to 10 other personnel of the military, made up of top senior officers of the army and rank-and-files within the army and Nigerian Air Force.
Okereafor said that PSM found it absolutely worrisome the rate of military jet/airplane crash in spite the huge amount been allocated to the military in recent time.