President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday evening spoke with widow of the late Chief of Army Staff, Mrs. Fati Ibrahim Attahiru via phone, describing the departed army chief as an outstanding soldier and an institution builder.
The President spoke to Mrs. Attahiru as a representative of the wives and families of all the officers and men involved in the ill-fated air trip, which took the life of Attahiru and ten others last Friday.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari noted the late COAS fought valiantly for Nigeria until he breathed his last.
According to the statement, the President assured that Nigerians would continue to appreciate and support the fearlessness with which the nation’s courageous soldiers have been confronting the threats facing the nation.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has described Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, the late Chief of Army Staff as an outstanding soldier and an institution builder, who fought valiantly for Nigeria until he breathed his last.
“In a telephone conversation Sunday evening with Mrs. Fati Ibrahim Attahiru, the wife of the late COAS and the spouses of the other deceased officers through her, President Buhari hailed the sacrifices of the military men, who lost their lives and the Armed Forces in general, saying that Nigerians will continue to appreciate and support the fearlessness with which our courageous soldiers are confronting the threats facing the nation.
“He gave the grieving spouses assurances that the nation will never forget the supreme sacrifice of their spouses, urging them to take solace in the surge of extraordinary feelings of emotions across regions, religions and tribes all over the country in appreciation of their sacrifices.
“The President who had earlier given directives to the Defense headquarters and the Ministry of Defence to do everything a government can do to provide comfort and ease the hardships of the families of the deceased, prayed to Almighty God to repose their souls and grant their families the fortitude to bear the losses.
“Mrs. Attahiru, on behalf of the rest of the families thanked the President for the love and care he has shown to them,” the statement reads.
WITHIN NIGERIA had earlier reported that the First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, on Sunday, along with her children, visited Mrs. Fati Ibrahim Attahiru to commiserate with her over the death of her husband.
She visited the family at the Flag Staff House at Niger Barracks, Abuja, on Sunday.
On her verified Twitter handle @aishambuhari, on Sunday evening, the First Lady announced her visit to the widow of the late COAS, describing the death of Attahiru and others as a monumental loss to the nation.
“I paid a condolence visit to the Family of the Late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.
“The death of the Late Chief of Army Staff and the other military officers aboard the ill-fated aircraft is a monumental loss to their families and the nation at large,” she said.