VIDEO: Military Aircraft Crashes In Kaduna, Killing Chief of Army Staff, Others

A military plane crashed in Kaduna State on Friday. General Ibrahim Attahiru, the Chief of Army Staff, died in the plane crash.

The aircraft crashed at a runway of the Kaduna international airport with 12 people on board, including top military officers and crew members.

The Nigerian Air Force confirmed the incident via a statement issued shortly after the crash.

NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the incident occurred near the Kaduna International Airport.

“An air crash involving a Nigeria AirForce aircraft occurred this evening near the Kaduna International Airport. The immediate cause of the crash is still being ascertained. More details to follow soon,” he said.

The incident was said to have occurred at about 6 pm while it was raining heavily.

The officers apparently were on their way to Kaduna State ahead of tomorrow’s passing out parade of soldiers from the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria.

The Air Force has been involved in a couple of tragedies this year. An Air Force jet supporting ground troops fighting Boko Haram terrorists went missing in north-east Borno in March.

In February, seven officials died after a military plane crashed in Abuja, the nation’s capital.