By AKINWUNMI KING

The news of Friday’s military plane crash jolted many, considering just three months ago, a military plane crashed with the seven officers onboard died. The late officers were returning to Abuja from Minna at the time of the incident.

Just after that, in March, a Nigerian air force jet went missing and it was later discovered that it crashed. So, it is three crashes in three months, as the first and third clashes occurred exactly three months apart, February 21 and May 21.

As many continued to input different insinuations around the plane crashes, political analysts are of the view that the military and federal government especially through its agencies should be able to tell Nigerians in the coming days the real and remote cause of the mishap.

The latest crash took many Nigerians by surprise not because it was another crash but because it involved the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, and other top military officers.

These other officers included: Brig-Gen Mohammed Idris Abdulkadir, Brig-Gen Olatunji Lukman Olayinka, Brig-Gen Abdulrahman Kuliya, Maj Lawal Aliyu Hayat, Maj Nura Hamza, Sgt Umar, while the crew members include, flt-Lt TO Asaniyi, flt-Lt AA Olufade, Sgt Adesina and Acm Oyedepo.

The 10 officers who died in the crash were on their way to Zaria for the passing out parade of regular recruits slated for the next day.

Late Attahiru was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as the 21st COAS on January 26 alongside other service chiefs, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor; Chief of Naval Staff, Gambo Awwal, and Chief of Air Staff, Isiaka Amao.

The late army chief replaced Tukur Buratai, a retired lieutenant general. However, with the demise of the COAS who would have clocked 55 years in August, the army is currently without a substantive head.

With the sudden death of the COAS, there have been grave concerns as to how the war against insurgency could be affected. His short stint on the COAS seat, the late Attahiru was seen by many as a man who was determined to end Boko Haram insurgency and other insecurity challenges confronting the nation.

As the Theatre Commander of the Boko Haram counter insurgency tagged Operation Lafiya Dole back in 2017, Attahiru was a very gallant commander whose exploits at the time were well documented.

For many, despite Attahiru’s short stint as Army Chief, incursions by Boko Haram into communities in the North East had been pushed to a very bare minimum. And where the terrorists gained any grounds, the military was quick to regain and reclaim any lost territory.

Lt. Gen. Attahiru was ever present with his troops and was always on ground with them to give them moral support. He catalogued their demands and problems and always set to work, to solve their problems. One of his finest exploits in the war against terror, is the reclaiming of over 30 communities in Niger State that had been taken over by bandits and terrorists.

The Army was able to sack the bandits and reclaim the villages that had become under the faux control of the bandits under their own tax system. The bandits were fining the villagers for access to their farming activities.

In his tribute to the late COAS, President Muhammadu Buhari affirmed that the death of the Chief of Army Staff has increased the country’s problems, especially at a time the country is battling security challenges.

President Buhari, who stated this on Monday, when he received a delegation of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, who were on a condolence visit following the air crash that killed Attahiru and 10 others, said only God knew why the crash happened and expressed resolve to continue to work hard hoping that God would provide the enablement to deal with challenges.

According to him, “This is a situation that only God knows when it will happen, and it happened at a time when the security situation in the country is a fundamental issue. And to lose choice officers has increased our problem, but we know what we are in for, and we will continue to work hard and pray hard so that God will give us the power to appreciate and apply ourselves to the problem. The people who elected us, they know the promises we made within the time, the circumstances in which we find ourselves, we will keep on trying and continue to do our best.”

Even the immediate Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, retd, said on Sunday in a tribute that the late Attahiru, his successor, was on the verge of making the country proud in the fight against insurgency when he died.

In the tribute to the late Chief of Army Staff, Buratai said: “I was deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the passing away of my immediate successor, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Acting Chief of Military Intelligence, Acting Provost Marshal (Army), his Chief of Staff, the 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 an air crash on May 21, 2021, at Kaduna Airport.

“I would like to, on behalf of my family, reiterate my deepest sympathy and condolences to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria, the families of the deceased, the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence, the Chief of Air Staff, gallant officers, soldiers and airmen of the Armed Forces of Nigeria over the passing away of these courageous, loyal and patriotic Nigerians in line of duty.

“I am deeply saddened by this incident that can best be described as tragic to all Nigerians and peace-loving people because Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru and those officers that died along with him were top-level officers whose records of service were meritorious.

“This unfortunate incident deeply saddens me as it robbed us of the services of the Chief of Army Staff who, since he took over from me, had left no one in doubt as regards his determination to succeed in the various military operations across the country.

“He was at the verge of making the nation proud in the counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism efforts when this tragedy occurred.

“I do not doubt his ability as he had served under me in various capacities and was well grounded for the job with active support and collaboration of his colleagues.

“While condoling the Armed Forces of Nigeria, I urge them to close ranks and make sure that their legacy lives on by consolidating on the gains made in the various operations.

“They gave their lives in the line of duty and patriotic service to the nation.”

Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, who described the death of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, and other top military officers in the plane crash as devastating to the nation, stated that the incident occurred at a time when the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff along with other service chiefs had developed renewed efforts in tackling the country’s insecurity.

Bello said the late Attahiru within his short time in office, demonstrated and showed remarkable commitment and professionalism in discharging his duty.

On his part, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom described the death as a major setback to the fight against insecurity in the country, maintaining that the late Chief of Army Staff demonstrated commitment to tackling the wave of insecurity since his assumption of office earlier this year.

Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu praised the late General Attahiru’s contributions in Nigeria’s efforts to end the war against insurgency, saying the country would miss the rich experience and knowledge of the late army general.

“The late Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru will be sorely missed by Nigerians, especially at this period when the country is intensifying the fight against insurgency and other criminal elements in different parts of the country.”

Also speaking on the crash, Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, while mourning the Chief of Army Staff, described the death as deeply saddening and devastating, especially now that the nation was in dire need of their services at this critical time of intense fight to win the war against insurgency and banditry.

In a statement, Okowa said the deceased had a rich military career, and had held several command positions with distinction, including Theatre Commander, “Operation Lafia Dole”, an experience the nation hoped to gain from as Army Chief.

As the country looks forward to finally seeing an end to insurgency, political analysts believe that the death of Attahiru will no doubt have an adverse effect on the fight against insurgency. With the various accolades that trailed his sudden death, it is obvious that the move to bring an end to insurgency will surely suffer a setback. (Text from Daily INDEPENDENT)

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