The Nigerian government has declared Monday, 24 May 2021, a work-free day for Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
According to the Nigerian Army, the declaration is in honour of the Chief of Army Staff, Late Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and ten other military officials, who recently died in a plane crash in Kaduna.
The military further stated that the National Flag would be flown at half-mast from 24-26 May 2021. The Nigerian Army has earlier announced the death of General Ibrahim Attahiru. He died in an air crash in Kaduna, which also killed ten other officers, including the crew.
Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, the Director of Army Public Relation, confirmed that the COAS was en route to Kaduna from Abuja on Friday, 21 May 2021, when the unfortunate incident happened.
You will recall that General Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Defence Staff, had earlier ordered an investigation to unravel the causes of the plane crash that killed Ibrahim Attahiru.
Meanwhile, Defence Information Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu said the incident occurred due to inclement weather at about 1800 hours.
However, a former Presidential spokesman, Reno Omokri, had opined that President Muhammadu Buhari ought to have declared that flags should be flown at half-mast in honour of General Ibrahim Attahiru and his colleagues.
Reno noted that it is unfortunate to see five Governors and multiple ministers partying in Kano amidst the report about the death of the military officials.
Meanwhile, in another tweet on Monday, Reno said President Buhari had finally seen the wisdom in his counsel that he flies Nigeria’s flag at half-mast in honour of General Attahiru and those who died with him.