Late Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru was determined to end Boko Haram, Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, said today at the funeral of the Nigerian fallen soldier.
Governor Zulum, Senator Kashim Shettima and Senator Abubakar Kyari joined other top dignitaries and hundreds of sympathizers for the jana’iza (funeral prayers) of the late Chief of Army Staff.
The funeral held around 1:30 at the national mosque in Abuja was attended by the senate president, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni, chief of staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Minister of Defence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Inspector General of Police, Comptroller General of Immigration, amongst other serving and former public office holders, top military officers, families, friends and associates of the late COAS.
Attahiru, died yesterday in a plane crash with some of his aides who were on official trip from Abuja to Kaduna.
Bodies of the late COAS and five others were brought by military ambulances to the national mosque for the funeral prayers that took place immediately after the zuhr prayers, the Vanguard reported on Saturday.
The late chief of army staff had since his appointment, been to Borno state more than six times, to supervise ongoing military operations against Boko Haram.
He had visited different army formations, mobilized and motivated troops in front lines in peacebuilding efforts.
Professor Zulum said the late chief of staff was evidently committed to the fight against Boko Haram and was determined to significantly contribute to ending the insurgency.
“The commitment of the late chief of army staff to the fight against Boko Haram was very obvious. Within the short time he served, he had been to Borno on multiple occasions, meeting operational commanders and troops at battlefronts.
“In all his interactions, he regularly motivated troops. The people of Borno thank him and all our gallant fallen heroes for their unquantifiable service to Borno and the rest of Nigeria” Zulum said.
