By Bayo Bernard
“Lt General Attahiru, who will be buried today, Saturday, May 22, at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, along with the other Senor officers killed with him, goes into history as the Chief of Army Staff who served the shortest time in recent years. He served for only five months. His predecessor, Lt General Tukur Burutai, served the longest- almost six years”
He was not prepared for death in such a horrific manner, nor any manner at the time he was burnt to death. He was full of life, and looked forward to a National Assignment in Kaduna which he completed, same day, Friday, May 21.
And was on his way back to Abuja, along with a couple of his colleagues and aides.
They boarded the Airforce plane, a Military plane, capable of withstanding all kinds of challenging weather. But it turned out it was their last flight. They flew to death a few minutes after they took off from the local wing of the Kaduna International Airport.
For Nigeria, an embattled country, it was a black Friday. And the Nation mourns.
Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Attahiru boarded the military aircraft from Abuja. The aircraft carrying him and other top military officers, crashed at the Kaduna International Airport on Friday evening killing him and other Generals, among others.
The initial report said that his wife, Fati, was also on board the ill-fated flight. Fake news.
The embattled Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai debunked it. He said Fati was not on board.
For Nigeria and el-Rufai, Attahiru’s death could not have come at a worse time. He was from Kaduna State, a State which has, almost, been made nonsense of by deadly bandits and Kidnappers. A State which has just been brought to its knees by angry Civil Servants and an obstinate Governor.
Lt General Attahiru’s death comes amidst reports that Abubakar Shekau, the dreaded leader of terrorist group, Boko Haram, has been killed in battle with a rival group, the Islamic West African Province, ISWAP.
The development also coincided with Thursday’s warning by the Acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, of an imminent attack, by Boko Haram members on Abuja and Jos.
The IGP has put the Commissioners of police in the Federal Capital Territory and Plateau State on the alert over possible attacks from the insurgents.
The alert was contained in a May 19, 2021 circular addressed to the two Commissioners of Police was signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IGP, Idowu Owohunwa, an acting CP.
Baba said an intelligence report revealed that terrorists are planning to attack Abuja and Jos. The circular with reference number TB: 0900/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.TI/47 was titled ‘Terror elements to expand frontiers of attack.’
He also directed the Commissioners of police to review their security architecture and beef up security around Government facilities, particularly, in Abuja and Jos.
The circular read, “Intelligence report at the disposal of the Inspector-General of Police has uncovered plans by Boko Haram terrorists to attack major cities in the country, particularly in Jos, Plateau and the FCT, Abuja.
“The proposed attacks would be coordinated by the duo of Muhammad Sani, a Boko Haram commander, domiciled in Sambisa Forest and his deputy, Suleiman, hibernating around Lawan Musa Zango, Gashua, Yobe State.
“In light of the above, it is the directive of the Inspector-General of Police that you review your security architecture across all critical government infrastructures and police facilities in your jurisdiction with a view to checkmating the dastardly plans of these marauding terrorists,” the IGP said.
The IGP had, also, a few days ago in Enugu launched a new police formation to handle the spate of insecurity in the South-east and South-south.
In spite of all the efforts by the Government to tackle insecurity, keen watchers of recent events insist that the death of COAS will shake the Nation’s security architecture to its very foundation.
Those who died with the COAS, according to Mohammed Yerima, include Brig. Gen M.I Abdulkadir, Brig. Gen Olayinka, Brig. Gen. Kuliya and Major L.A Hayat. Others are Major Hamza, Sgt. Umar, Flt. Lt Asaniyi, Flt. Lt AA Olu and Sgt Adesina.
According to sources who spoke with this Magazine, the feelings in Aso Rock, Nigeria’s Presidency, is now that of despondency and disappointment that the tragic incident happened at a time that everything is being done to secure the country from security threats posed by armed bandits, kidnappers and Boko Haram, which intelligence reports say are planning to attack Abuja.
Many Nigerians are asking questions over this deadly crash. They ask: Was it avoidable? Was the aircraft in good condition? Was the crash due to bad weather as is being hinted at? Did they take off under a heavy down pour? If so, why? Did the Control Tower give them clearance to take off? Or did the crew disobey the Control Tower? Or what? Unending questions.
Nigerians cannot wait for a transparent investigation to answer these questions.
For the records, this will be the second deadly Military aircraft crash within months. On a mission to look for students kidnapped by Bandits in Niger State, an Airforce Aircraft crashed on take-off at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja killing all on board.
Some weeks ago, an Airforce Aircraft with a Pilot and co-Pilot disappeared into thin air. Neither the bodies of the Pilots nor the carcass of the aircraft has been seen till date. The Military debunked a viral video of the alleged crash and a claim by the Boko Haram that they shot the plane down, dismissing the carcass of the plane, flaunted by the insurgents as fake.
Now this.
A few years ago, a Military aircraft carrying some top officers to Obudu Ranch for a meeting crashed killing top Generals and their aides.
General Attahiru, was appointed in January by President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed Lt General Tukur Burutai, now retired, as the Chief of Army Staff.
A native of Kaduna State, Attahiru, was born on August 10, 1966. Until his recent appointment, he was the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu.
With service number 8406, he was a member of the Regular Course 35 of the Nigerian Defence Academy. At a time, he was the Theatre Commander of the Operation Lafiya Dole until he was sacked in 2017 for alleged incompetence.
Under his watch, suicide bombings and attacks on military formations were on the rise. Barely a month after he assumed office, Boko Haram insurgents attacked Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Meanwhile, President Buhari has sent his condolences to the family of the killed officers, urging other Nigerians to pray for their souls.
