Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has called on the Armed Forces, not to be deterred by the ill- fated accident that claimed the lives of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other military brass in Kaduna on Friday.
He said, rather than being downcast, they should be spurred by the incident to redouble their efforts to win the war against insurgency.
Mark who described the incident as shocking and sad said , “the only way to immortalize the departed soldiers, is to do all that is needed, to win the war against insurgents, and restore the citizens’ hope and confidence in the Armed Forces”.
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Mark’s message is contained in condolence messages to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, the Nigerian Armed Forces and the families of the fallen soldiers, in Abuja.
He described the fallen officers as gallant, patriotic and heroes, who were committed to the defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria, as well as the restoration of peace, unity and security of the nation.
Mark said the death of the COAS and others at this time, when their services were needed to rid the nation of security challenges, is a huge set back.
Senator Mark himself a retired Army General, however noted that the tragedy was one too many; calling on the Nigeria Airforce to subject its transport fleet to external safety audit, under the civil/military cooperation, as recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization, (ICAO), in order to unravel the immediate and remote causes of recent plane crashes.
Those who died along with the late COAS were Brigadier General M. I. Abdulkadir, Brigadier General Olayinka, Brigadier General Kuliya, Major L. A. Hayat, Major Hamza and Sergeant Umar.
Others were Flight Lieutenant T. O. Asaniyi, Flight Lieutenant A.A. Olufade, Sergeant Adesina and ACM Oyedepo.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
