From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has expressed deepest condolences to President Muhammadu Buhari who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, over the death of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru along with other officers, including the crew, in a plane crash in Kaduna, Friday.
He also condoled on behalf of the government and people of Kano with the families of Brig. Gen. Abdulrahman Kuliya, Chief of Military Intelligence, an indigene of the state who is one of the senior military officers that died along with the COAS.
In a statement signed by the commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, the governor said he was profoundly pained to hear the plane crash with precious lives lost.
He said: ‘’Our thought and prayers are with Mr. President, the military and families of the deceased. We stand by you on this grave tragedy and comfort you and all who mourn the departed souls.”
The governor said while the unfortunate incident came at a time Nigeria is facing many security challenges, it is hoped that the sacrifices of these nationalists would not be in vain.
“While I join you in taking solace in the fact that the gallant officers passed away contributing to the development of this great nation, I pray Almighty Allah in His infinite mercy to grant their souls Aljannah Firdausi the family, the military friends and associates to bear the loss with the spirit of acquiescence to Allah’s will,” the statement added.
