Flt. Lt. A A Olafade .He got married 2 months ago and lost his life yesterday
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 pilot of the military jet that crashed yesterday in Kaduna… Flt. Lt. A A Olafade .
He got married 2 months ago and lost his life yesterday.
The aircraft was said to be conveying the Chief of Army Staff and 10 others including three brigadier generals, two majors, two flight lieutenants, two sergeants and another crew member.
According to reports, they were traveling to Kaduna State for the passing out parade ceremony of newly recruited military personnel to be held on Saturday.
The Nigeria Airforce has confirmed that a military aircraft crashed near the Kaduna International Airport on Friday evening.
A statement signed by the Air force spokesperson Edward Gabkwet read that the cause of the crash cannot be ascertained yet.
“An air crash involving a @NigAirForce aircraft occurred this evening near the Kaduna International Airport. The immediate cause of the crash is still being ascertained. More details to follow soon,” the statement read.
It could be recalled that since January 2021, there has been three fatal aircraft that killed military personnel in Nigeria.
Earlier in February, seven officers of the Nigerian Air force died in a crash close to the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja after reporting an engine failure en-route to Minna, Niger State.
Also in April, two pilots of the Nigerian Air force were killed after a fighter jet belonging to the Force went missing.
List of the deceased include
1. LT Gen. I Attahiru
2. Bri. Gen. MI Abdulkadir
3. Brig. Gen Olayinka
4. Brig Gen Kuliya
5. Maj. LA Hayat.
6. Maj. Hamza.
7. Sgt. Umar.
CREW
8. Flt Lt TO Asaniyi
9. Flt Lt AA Olufade.
10. Sgt Adesina.
11. ACM Oyedepo
