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SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 22, 2021 — 5 How COAS Attahiru, 11 top aides perished in plane crash *NAF begins probe of crash By Soni Daniel; Kingsley Omonobi, Ibrahim Hassan Wuyo & Johnbosco Agbakwuru NEARLY four months after being named as Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, died yesterday evening in an air crash at the Kaduna International Airport. The COAS, who was heading for Kaduna on official duty, reportedly perished with no fewer than seven top aides, who were travelling on the same 350 Beechcraft Aircraft. The loud screams coupled with the explosion resulting from the aircraft before it finally crashed, reportedly threw the inhabitants of the airport community into chaos, fear and confusion. Some of the locals, who witnessed the crash, said that the troubled aircraft exploded and got burnt completely by the time it hit the ground. “All the crew members and passengers numbering 12 died in the crash,” a source at the airport told journalists in Kaduna. ‘The crew apparently lost control of the aircraft due to sudden change of weather accompanied with violent storm and lightning,” the source explained. The Nigerian Airforce confirmed the crash but was silent on casualties. They however announced that an investigation into the crash would be carried out. “An air crash involving a Nigeria Airforce aircraft occurred this evening near the Kaduna International Airport,” Nigerian Airforce Public Relations Officer, Air Vice Marshall Edward Gabkwet, said in a statement. Lt. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru was appointed Chief of Army Staff along with other Service Chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 26, 2021. Born on 10 August 1966 in Doka, Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Attahiru graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in December 1986 as an Infantry Officer. The late COAS held a Master’s degree in Strategic Management and Policy Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy. General Attahiru had held several key appointments during his military career and had undertaken many strategic duties within and outside Nigeria. Late Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru Ibrahim Attahiru: 30th Army Chief; Second Shortest Stint Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, was the 30th Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria. He was also the 26th indigenous Chief of Army Staff and was in office for three months and 26 days. It was the second shortest stint as army chief after the three months stewardship of Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau between September and November 1993. The shortest stint before him in the democratic era was Gen. Andrew Azazi who served for 11 months before he was promoted to the post of Chief of Defence Staff. Gen. Attahiru was appointed army chief on January 26, 2021 when President Muhammadu Buhari made a sweeping change of the service chiefs. Born on 10th August 1966 in Doka, Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State, he graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy. He commenced cadets training in January 1984 and was commissioned into the rank of Second Lieutenant in December 1986 as an Infantry Officer. He had a Masters degree in Strategic Management and Policy Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy. General Attahiru held several appointments on the staff, instructional and in command during his military career. He had a tour of duty with the United Nations in Sierra Leone as a Military Observer, where he facilitated United Kingdom military engagement, Operation BARASS in September 2000. He was an Operation Officer and later Company Commander in NI- BATT 19 ECOMOG Operations in Liberia. Also, he had the unique privilege of having commanded with distinction all through the chain of command in the Nigerian Army. Prominent among these appointments were Commanding Officer 146 Battalion Nigerian Army (Operation HARMONY IV) in the Bakassi Peninsula, Commander 13 Brigade Nigerian Army (Operation PULO SHIELD), General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army. He was one time Theatre Commander Operation LAFIYA DOLE. Buhari expresses shock over Gen. Attahiru death —Also mourns others President Muhammadu Buhari Friday night expressed sadness over the air crash that claimed the lives of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and other military officers. The President in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina condoled with families of the deceased, the military, and Nigerians in general, describing them as “heroes who paid the ultimate price for peace and security in the land.” While praying that God receives the souls of the patriots, the President said the crash “is one mortal blow to our underbelly, at a time our armed forces are poised to end the security challenges facing the country.” President Buhari pledged that the departed would not die in vain. In his own reaction, Mr. Peter Obi who described the crash as painful to the nation, commiserated with the Nigerian Army, the Air force and Mr. President and prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the dead. COAS ENTOURAGE 1. LT GEN I ATTAHIRU - COAS 2. BRIG GEN MI ABDULKADIR - Chief of Staff to Army Chief 3. BRIG GEN OLAYINKA - Acting Provost Marshal, Nigerian Army 4. BRIG GEN KULIYA - Acting Chief of Military Intelligence 5. MAJ LA HAYAT - ADC to COAS 6. MAJ HAMZA - Chief Security Officer (CSO) to COAS 7. SGT UMAR - Orderly to COAS Aircraft Crew 8. FLT LT TO ASANIYI - Pilot 9. FLT LT AA OLUFADE - Co-Pilot 10. SGT ADESINA. 11. ACM OYEDEPO. INFERNO: N3.685 trn property saved in 3 months, says Fire Service boss By Omeiza Ajayi & Fortune Eromosele THE Federal Fire Service FFS said it has in the first quarter of 2021 saved property worth N3.685 trillion and an estimated property loss of N9.42 billion. Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, FFS, Dr Ibrahim Alhaji Liman disclosed this on yesterday in Abuja when the Senate Committee on Interior paid an oversight visit to the Service. According to him, “In 2020, the Service attended to 3,555 fire calls and 353 rescue emergencies 1,100 lives were saved while 147 were lost. Estimated property saved N1.351 trillion and an estimated property loss of N32.12 billion. “The first quarter of 2021, 986 fire calls, 34 rescue emergencies, 175 lives saved and 11 lives lost with an estimated property saved of N3.685 trillion and estimated property lost of N9.42 billion. The reason behind the spike in 2021 figures is because of a significant number of industrial fires.” He noted that the constant training of firefighters has proven effective, promising that they will continue to deliver adequate service in times of dire need. “The quest for professionalism has made the Service tailor its training needs to meet specific requirements. Choice trainings, refresher courses and train-the- trainer courses are being pursued both locally and internationally. Fifty personnel have been trained in Medical Emergency Preparedness, while 50 Instructors and 30 Investigators have been trained locally. "Twenty One Officers are currently training in Belarus in different fields and 10 are ready to travel to Dubai for training on hydraulic platform while 15 are going for International Disaster Management course in the UK. Osinbajo, Gowon, CAN President pray for a New Nigeria By Johnbosco Agbakwuru VICE President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja yesterday declared that a new Nigeria was in the making, despite the current travails besetting it. The Vice President said the development would eventually give way to a glorious and bright new morning of a new nation. Prof Osinbajo spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast held at the NAF Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja. The Vice President was joined by former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon (retd); President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Ayokunle, among other dignitaries who attended. According to him, “the new nation is birthing already. It is covered by a cloud, but the cloud will pass, and God Almighty will take all of the glory for the birthing of a new nation.” While he noted that the theme of the Prayer breakfast, the “Birth of a New Nation”, was significant, especially in these times, Osinbajo emphasized the need for collective prayers, faith, hope and action, adding that Nigeria would prevail over the challenges of today. He said the National Prayer Breakfast “comes at a time of great travail and tribulation for the nation: in the throes of a pandemic for well over a year, leading to a severe economic downturn, loss of jobs and livelihoods; and as we climbed out of the recession, we have been faced with an unprecedented scale of insecurity, in different zones of the nation. Vice- chancellor’s appointment: Sanwo-Olu dissolves LASU governing council By Olasunkanmi Akoni LAGOS State Governor and the Visitor to the Lagos State University (LASU), Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has ordered dissolution of the institution’s governing council in line with the recommendations in the report of the Special Visitation Panel on the appointment of the 9th Vice-Chancellor. Commissioner for the Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, announced the governor’s directive in a statement released on Friday, May 21, 2021. According to Omotoso, “After consideration of the report of the Special Visitation Panel and by the powers conferred on him by the Lagos State University Law, Cap L69 volume 7, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (as amended), hereby adopts the recommendations and directs as follows: The immediate dissolution of the Lagos State University Governing Council and the removal of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council for flagrant violations of the extant laws and regulations of the University guiding the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor. “Cancellation of the second failed exercise to appoint the 9th Substantive Vice-Chancellor as a result of the flagrant contravention of extant laws, breach of due process, failure and total disregard to follow its own laid down criteria guiding the process for the appointment of a 9th Vice-Chancellor as publicly advertised. “In due course, a new Governing Council for the Lagos State University will be constituted. The reconstituted Council shall conduct a new process for the appointment of the 9th Vice-Chancellor.
6 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, MAY 22, 2021 From left: Director of Information, Naval Headquarters, Commodore Suleman Dahun; Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Christian Ezekobe;'Director Funds, Accountant General’s office, Sabo Mohammed, Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris FCNA, Chief of Accounts and Budget, Naval Headquarters, Commodore Kasimu Bushi, Director Inspectorate, Accountant General’s office, Chuks Anamekwe, Chief of Logistics, Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Muhammad Nagenu, and Director Information and PR, Accountant General’s office, Henshaw Ogubike during a courtesy call on the CNS by the AGoF yesterday at the NHQ Abuja… 15 gunmen attack Catholic Church in Katsina, abduct priests, kill one *75-yr-old Rev. Fr. missing *Police arrest 2, launch manhunt CAN: Incident happened close to police station By Bashir Bello& Luminous Janamike FRESH facts have emerged revealing how gunmen attacked St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, Malumfashi, Katsina State, and abducted two priests at the Catechetical Training School located inside the church premises. Saturday Vanguard learned the attackers, who were about 15, had stormed the parish at 11 pm last Thursday, abducting Rev Fr. Alphonsus Bello and Rev Fr. Joe Keke . Bello’s corpse was later found some metres away from the church on Friday, while the whereabouts of 75-year-old Fr. Keke was unknown as at press time. The parish is under the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto Ḋirector of Social Communication, Sokoto Diocese, Rev.Fr. Chris Omotohso, who had earlier revealed the incident in a brief statement, told Saturday Vanguard in a chat that the gunmen shot sporadically after gaining access to the church premises. He further said the Dean of Malumfashi Deanery, Fr. Stephen Ojapah (MSP), had raised the alarm about the incident at about 1.35 am. •Rev. Fr. Joe Keke, missing Omotosho quoted the priest to have said the parish house of St. Vincent Ferrer Church had been attacked by bandits numbering about 15. Meanwhile, Katsina State Police Command said two suspects were arrested in connection with the incident. Spokesperson for the Command, Superintendent of Police, SP, Gambo Isah, said manhunt for the missing priest had commenced. The Police image maker told Saturday Vanguard that complicity on the part of the security guards at the church couldn’t be ruled out. Police should rescue Fr. Keke—CAN •Rev Fr Alphonsus Bello, killed Reacting to the incident, Chairman, Katsina State Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Fr. Nelson Onyekachukwu, appealed to security agents to ensure the missing priest is rescued. According to him, “last night, I received a call from Malumfashi, informing me about the ugly incident that one of our priests was killed and another kidnapped. I was told they entered the church compound and started shooting. People ran helter-skelter for safety. The incident happened around 11pm and not even 2am. “My greatest concern is that a police station and an Area Command are close to the church. It is just adjacent to Malumfashi hotel. “We are not happy. We are in pain. What type of country are we in? That you are in your house, you are not safe. You are travelling on the road, you are not safe as you are scared. We don’t have leadership in this country. Our appeal is for the security agents to help us rescue Reverend Father Joe Keke from captivity. The abductors are yet to reach out.” We’re praying for his immediate, safe return - Chancellor Also, the Chancellor, Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Fr. Cornelius Tagwai, said they were praying for the immediate and safe return of Fr. Keke whose whereabouts was yet unknown. Tagwai. in a brief statement, said: “With a heavy heart, I officially announce the call to eternal rest of Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Yashim Bello, who until his death was a Fidei Donum Priest from Kaduna Archdiocese and the Parish Priest of St. Vincent Ferrer’s Parish, Malumfashi, Katsina State. This sad event took place in the early hours of today, Friday, May 21, 2021. The late Fr. Bello, was kidnapped with Very Rev Fr. Joseph Keke, the most senior priest of Sokoto Diocese, but his lifeless body was later found abandoned behind the CTC, Malumfashi. The whereabouts of Fr Keke is not yet known. “May the soul of Fr. Bello and the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. “Kindly join us in prayer for the immediate and safe return of Fr. Keke and the peaceful repose of Fr. Bello.” The missing priest, who was ordained in 1976 by the late Bishop Dempsey, is the oldest priest in Sokoto Diocese under the leadership of Bishop Mathew Kukah. He is the second diocesan priest of the diocese. YOV seeks release of 3 OPC members in Police custody By Dapo Akinrefon THE apex Yoruba Di aspora Group Yoruba One Voice, YOV, on Friday, called for the release of three members of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, who handed over the kidnapping kingpin, Iskilu Wakili, to the police in March this year. YOV, made their position known in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olori Omoladun Orolugbagbe. The organization, which is the coalition of over 174 Yoruba groups in Diaspora, expressed worry at the way the Oyo state Commissioner of police, Ngozi Onadeko handled the the case, adding that the OPC had rescued the situation in Ibarapa and its environs at a time when, banditry kidnapping, and killings were at an unprecedented rate in Ibarapa and its environs. Robbers attack Chinese bizman, kill policeman in Abia By Ugochukwu Alaribe GUNMEN yesterday attacked a businessman, said to be a Chinese national and killed a policeman accompanying him. This happened in Mission Hill area of Umuahia, the Abia State capital. Vanguard gathered that the gunmen had trailed the businessman from a new generation bank to the Mission Hill area where they started shooting at his jeep. The policeman was said to have engaged the gunmen. In the ensuing gunfire, the gunmen killed the policeman and fled with the cash they withdrew from the bank. The driver to the businessman sustained gunshot injuries on the leg. Due to the gunfire, residents and shop owners scampered to safety as it was believed that bandits had invaded the city. However, when the shooting died down, it was confirmed to be a robbery attack as the businessman started calling for help. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the incident as a case of armed robbery. FG releases N7b for completion of East-West road By Chris Ochayi The Federal Government has released a total sum of N7 billion for the completion of the East West highway dualisation projects. The government, while releasing the money to the contractors handling the projects, urged them to comply with the directives in order to complete and hand over the project to the people of the region before the end of the First Quarter 2022. The Minister of State, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Omotayo Alasoadura, disclosed this during the inspection of the East-West road from Section II Sub Section II, Ahoada – Kaima, to Section II Sub Section I, Eleme Junction – Ahoada, and Section IIIA, Eleme Junction - Onne Port Junction, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Western education, only antidote to banditry, kidnapping, insurgency in Nigeria — Obasanjo By Ola Ajayi, Ibadan FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has said huge investment in Western education was the only antidote that can check insurgency, banditry and other social vices which are on the increase across the country. He said this on Friday at the commissioning of Prof. Abayomi Oluwatosin Jiboku Building, at Lariken International College, Ologuneru, Ibadan. While calling on all Nigerians to inculcate good values in their wards, he said, although ending banditry and other vices could take time, investment in Western education would definitely bring desired results. Obasanjo stressed that nothing else could substitute sound education in ridding insecurity in the country. Advising Nigerians not to place too much premium on money, he said money would never make him compromise his stance in any issue. The ex-President said, “The erroneous belief that money can buy anything does not apply to me. If you have money, you cannot buy my conscience. If we are to get out of this insecurity, banditry, Boko Haram, kidnapping, and other criminal activities, we will need to go through a very long gestation period of training, educating all Nigerian children. I mean all Nigerian children because there is emphasis on all the children.” The three members of the OPC still in police custody are Awodele Adedigba, Dauda Kazeem, and Hassan Ramon. The statement reads: “It is unfortunate that the Oyo state Commissioner of police had severally ignored the calls by well meaning Nigerians, including the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams on the need to release the three OPC members from police custody. But rather than heed the calls, the police decided to play politics with the situation. The OPC members were transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Iyaganku, Ibadan. From there, they were taken to court. “The police also levelled allegations of arson and murder against the three OPC members when they were taken to court. But the truth of the matter is that if the OPC members are criminals, they would not have arrested Wakili alive and still take him to the police for further investigation. “It is also still surprising that the police had charged the three OPC members with arson and murder. The charges were done in bad faith and those of us abroad will continue to raise our voices against the unjust detention of the brave members. Orolugbagbe, who noted that the OPC members are not criminals said they should be released. “They should have no case to answer. They are law-abiding citizen. They only complemented government’s efforts at reducing crime rate in Nigeria. The security agencies are overwhelmed and they need the support of non-state actors to strengthen the security architecture of the country. This is exactly what the OPC members did in arresting Wakili.
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