Ibrahim Attahiru Was Ready To End Boko Haram, Zulum Mourns COAS

Babagana Zulum, Borno State Governor, on Saturday, said late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, was supposed to end the Boko Haram insurgency war in the North-East.

Zulum stated this when he joined other dignitaries like Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari; amongst others, to pay final respects to the late COAS at his burial in Abuja.

Attahiru died alongside 10 military personnel when a Beachcraft 350 aircraft crashed at the Kaduna International Airport on Friday.

The Defence Headquarters had announced that bad weather was accountable for the crash of the NAF jet.

Attahiru was buried at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja on Saturday afternoon in accordance to Islamic rites.

In a statement titled, ‘Zulum, Shettima, Kyari join VIPs for funeral of late COAS in Abuja…Attahiru was determined to end Boko Haram, Zulum says’, the Borno governor said the late chief of staff was evidently committed to the fight against Boko Haram and was determined to significantly contribute to ending the insurgency.

“The commitment of the late chief of army staff to the fight against Boko Haram was very obvious. Within the short time he served, he had been to Borno on multiple occasions, meeting operational commanders and troops at battle fronts.

“In all his interactions, he regularly motivated troops. The people of Borno thank him and all our gallant fallen heroes for their unquantifiable service to Borno and rest of Nigeria,” Zulum said.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had on January 26, 2021 nominated Attahiru to succeed Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai as COAS.

At least 20 military officers have lost their lives in the last three months in three crashes involving Nigerian Air Force jets.