Connect with us

News

One year after, cause of crash that killed ex-army chief Ibrahim Attahiru remains unknown

Published

on

 

One year after the crash of the Nigerian Air Force Beechcraft B300 King Air 350i, the cause of the incident remains unknown.

Recall that the ill-fated aircraft killed 11 military officers onboard, including then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, on May 21, 2021.

The aircraft crashed near the Kaduna International Airport while the military officers were on their way to the passing out parade of regular recruits slated for the following day.

The incident happened only 115 days after Attahiru assumed office as the Chief of Army Staff, following his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 26 alongside the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor; Chief of Naval Staff, Gambo Awwal, and Chief of Air Staff, Isiaka Amao.

Confirming the crash, Air Force Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in a terse statement had said, “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.”

READ  BREAKING: Ex-Govs Matawalle, Lalong, Oyetola, , others make Tinubu’s supplementary ministerial list

The Air Force subsequently mandated the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria to lead the investigation into the crash.

Three months after the crash, the AIB submitted the preliminary report to the Chief of Air Staff, Oladayo Amao, at the NAF Headquarters, Abuja.

A joint statement by Gabkwet and the General Manager, Public Affairs, AIB, Tunji Oketunbi, stated that the preliminary report contained a total of 27 initial findings and eight safety recommendations for immediate implementation. That was all that was heard of the crash.

Preliminary reports, according to Oketunbi, are not the final reports.

“They only contain details of the initial facts, discussions and findings surrounding the occurrences, which include information gathered from witness statements, flight recorders, Health and Usage Monitoring System Data, Flight Data Monitoring data, and preliminary inspection of the accident sites and the wreckages,” he said.

On April 26, the AIB released preliminary reports on four air crashes, but the one that claimed Attahiru’s life was excluded.

READ  Driver jailed for life for raping 4-yr-old UNILAG women society school pupil

The reports released were those of the crashes involving a United Nigeria Airlines Limited aircraft on November 17, 2021; Max Air aircraft on November 22, 2021; Air Peace aircraft on November 22, 2021 and Nigeria Police aircraft on January 26, 2022.

When asked by our correspondent why the crash that killed Attahiru was excluded from the reports released by the AIB, its spokesman, Oketunbi, explained that only the military could make the report public.

Oketunbi said, “We have submitted the preliminary report to the Nigerian Air Force and we presented it openly to them, although the full report is not in the public domain. You know it is not a civil accident. It is only the military that can make it public or give us the go-ahead to do so. To make it public is not part of our agreement; they invited us to investigate, we have done it and handed it over to them.”

READ  'EFCC uncovers religious sect laundering money for terrorists'

Asked when the full report would be concluded, he said, “The outcome of final report depends on NAF if they give us the necessary things we need.”

Meanwhile, the General Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation will today hold a memorial in Attahiru’s honour, one year after his demise.

The memorial holding in Abuja is expected to the attended by Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka; the Emir of Bichi, Kano Emirate, Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero; and environmentalist, Dr Newton Jibunoh, among other prominent citizens.

The Programme Coordinator, General Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation, Dr Titus Orngu, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, said Soyinka will deliver a short tribute titled, “To All, Who Give Their All for All.”

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Good morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers Today: VGC chairman found dead inside his car in Lagos

Published

on

By

 

1. A Lagos-based man, Gihan Mbelu, has reportedly died in his vehicle in the Victoria Garden City area of Lagos State on Friday. It was gathered on Sunday that 42-year-old Mbelu had reportedly parked his car, a Mercedes C300 4Matic, running for several hours while he sat motionless in the car.

 

2. In response to the devastating tanker fire incident in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu has directed federal agencies to continue providing support to the state government in addressing the aftermath of the tragedy. President Tinubu’s message, contained in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, also extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the fire incident.

 

3. As the demolition of properties along the right of way for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway begins, the federal government has promised to conduct the process with sensitivity, aiming to minimize disruptions to the lives of those affected.

READ  Speeding vehicle crushes hoodlums fighting over money on expressway

 

4. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says two notorious drug kingpins: Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian and Agbo Chidike Prince have been sentenced to life imprisonment for dealing in cocaine. Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said this brings to an end to their years of criminal enterprise of exporting cocaine across continents.

 

5. No fewer than 40 observers have been deployed by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to Togo, ahead of the parliamentary and regional election. The elections have been scheduled for April 29, 2024. This was revealed in a statement by the regional body.

 

6. Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Sunday, April 28, warned petrol stations against hoarding of fuel as scarcity hit the state. Adeleke through his chief of staff, Kazeem Akinleye, who is also the chairman, Petroleum Monitoring Taskforce, warned against creating artificial scarcity.

READ  BREAKING: Ex-Govs Matawalle, Lalong, Oyetola, , others make Tinubu’s supplementary ministerial list

 

7. Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has tackled Northern governors over their recent trip to the United States. In a Facebook post, he said the trip exposed the governors’ ignorance of the country’s constitution. According to him, security is solely the responsibility of the federal government because it is on the exclusive list.

 

8. The naira has demonstrated signs of strengthening against the United States dollar, appreciating by N125 to reach N1,275/$1 over the weekend. The new rate represents a 9.8 per cent increase when compared to N1,400 to a dollar it traded at the close of trading activity on Friday.

 

9. The immediate-past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Sunday, asked his counterpart in Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to come out of his hiding and answer his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Speaking at a Redeemed Christian Church of God in Makurdi, Benue State during the thanksgiving service organised by his aides for his 63rd birthday celebration, Ortom advised Bello to come out of hiding.

READ  Court orders final forfeiture of $899,600 linked to ex-Bauchi SSG, Dandija

 

10.
The campaign coordinator of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in Supare, Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Alaba Abbey, has been shot dead. Late Abbey was shot dead on Saturday evening at his residence in Supare.

 

Continue Reading

News

I’ll not govern Rivers on my knees, says Fubara

Published

on

By

 

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, says he will not govern the state from a position of subservience or weakness.

Fubara made the remarks on Saturday, during a condolence visit to the Ubima, Ikwerre LGA country home of Celestine Omehia, a former governor of the state.

 

Omehia was laying Cecilia Omehia, his mother, to rest.

 

“I have come here with very few respected elders of the state, to come and support you and say to you that we sorrow with you,” Fubara said.

 

“The most important thing is to show our concern and love. Any human being who shows enmity to death, that person is not even normal.

“We also rejoice with you for a life lived well to fulfilment by Mama. We wish Mama a safe journey. Let her stay well where she has gone.”

 

He said politics of bitterness will impede the development of the state and that “it is only in unity that we can move our state forward”.

READ  28 of 118 Bethel Baptist High School students still being held freed by bandits

 

“Anybody who claims to love this state should not be party to anything, directly or indirectly that will bring us backwards. We will continue to support every course that will advance the interests of our dear Rivers state,” he added.

“And I am happy to say, and I’ve said it over and again, it doesn’t matter the number of people that are standing with me, I will stand on that side of truth.

“I will not, I repeat, I will not govern our dear state on my knees. If that was the purpose, I will not do that.”

 

Fubara has been locked in a battle for the control of the political structure of Rivers with Nyesom Wike, his predecessor and minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

 

The governor recently redeployed some members of his cabinet who are loyal to Wike.

Continue Reading

News

Good Morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers This Beautiful Sunday: Benin Traditional Council suspends five chiefs for visiting Ooni

Published

on

By

 

1. Five officials in the Benin Kingdom have been suspended for allegedly engaging in sacrilegious conduct against Benin custom. The Benin Traditional Council, BTC, said their suspension was because they visited the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, where they “falsely” claimed to be emissaries of the Oba of Benin and rendered inaccurate account of the connection between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooni-ship of Ife.

 

2. The executive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has appointed Michael Nzekwe as his chief of staff. He also appointed zonal directors for each of the 14 zonal commands of the commission.

 

3. One person died on Saturday when a gas tanker explosion occurred after an accident at Ita Oshin area of Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State. Chief Route Commander and Education Officer for Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Florence Okpe, who confirmed the incident, on behalf of the sector commander, Anthony Uga, said the accident occurred at about 4:16 pm.

READ  Driver jailed for life for raping 4-yr-old UNILAG women society school pupil

 

4. The Naira yesterday recovered against the US dollar at the parallel market as it appreciated to N1280/$, according to market information obtained by Nairametrics from currency traders. This implied that the Naira appreciated by N120, representing a gain of 8.57 per cent when compared to the N1,400 to a dollar at which it traded on Friday.

 

5. Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has said there is a fierce fight to destroy the state. He said this at the country home of Sir Celestine Omehia in Ubima community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers, on Saturday.

 

6. A resident of Osogbo, simply identified as Seun and the motorcyclist conveying her have been crushed to death in a road accident that occurred in Osogbo, Osun State. Seun was said to be a fashion designer and was also working with a real estate firm. It was gathered that the accident occurred Friday evening around OgoOluwa Area of Osogbo.

READ  BREAKING: Ex-Govs Matawalle, Lalong, Oyetola, , others make Tinubu’s supplementary ministerial list

 

7. The All Progressives Congress has demanded the cancellation of the just conducted local government election in Oyo State. The party claimed that the election was a “sham”, warning that if allowed to proceed, it may damage the state’s reputation.

8. The retired Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Aderemi Adeoye has recounted how he fought the dreaded Niger Delta militants, the Book Haram terrorists in the North East and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, insurgents in the South East and survived all of them without a scar. Speaking during his pullout ceremony at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, Adeoye said it was the grace of God that saved him during the dangerous moments.

 

9. Tragedy struck in Rivers State on Friday night when fire from a fuel-laden tanker consumed four persons and about 100 vehicles at the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State. It was learnt that the tanker collided with another vehicle, exploded and burst into flames that spread to other tankers and many other vehicles trapped in the gridlock.

READ  Hardship: Do not to join protests, Afenifere tells Yorubas

 

10. The Anambra State Police Command has arrested 16 notorious cultists and declared 21 others wanted. In a statement by the command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in Awka on Saturday, the feat was achieved following intensified efforts to end the resurgence of cult-related killings in Awka, the state capital.

Continue Reading

Trending News