The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday commiserated with the families of Air Force officers who died alongside the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, in a military plane crash in Kaduna.
The Special Assistant to the President on African First Lady’s Peace Mission, Dr. Mairo Almakura, who led the first lady’s delegation to the Nigeria Air force Base, Abuja, described the incident as a monumental loss to the nation.
Mrs Buhari, who visited the family of the Co-Pilot, Flight Lt. Ayo A. Olufade, and three others, also described their sudden death as the will of God and prayed to almighty to give the families the fortitude to bear the loss.
“We are here in the Nigerian Air force Base, Abuja, on behalf of the first lady, Aisha Buhari, to condole with you at this moment of grief and join you in mourning the demise of your loved ones.
“We also pray that almighty God grant the deceased eternal rest and give the family the fortitude to bear the loss,“ she said.
The first lady also assured the families of the dead officers of her support.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Flight Lts. Ayodeji A. Olufade, and T.O Asaniyi, Sgt. Adesina Okpeyemi and ACM Oyedepo were among the crew in the ill-fated plane crash.
Others who died in the crash are Brig.-Gen. M.I Abdulkadir, Brig.-Gen. Olayinka, Brig.-Gen. Kuliya, Maj. L. A. Hayat, Maj. Hamza, and Sgt. Umar. (NAN).