President Muhammadu Buhari has said the loss of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 other military officers and men during last Friday’s plane crash in Kaduna has increased the nation’s problems.
The president, while receiving a delegation of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at the State House, Abuja, that paid him a condolence visit over the death of the 11 military officers and men, expressed concern over their death at a time the country is battling security problems.
The President of the Central African Republic, Mr. Faustin-Archange Touadéra; King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia; and the Secretary-General of the Anglican Communion, the Most Reverend Josiah Idowu-Fearon, also commiserated with the president.
Buhari reiterated the commitment of his administration to provide adequate security for Nigerians as well as ensuring their well-being.
Buhari told the NGF delegation led by its Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, that only God knew why the plane crash happened.
He expressed the resolve to continue to work hard hoping that God would provide the enablement to deal with the challenges.
He said: “This is a situation that only God knows when it will happen and it happened at a time when the security situation in the country is a fundamental issue.
“And to lose choice officers has increased our problem; but we know what we are in for and we will continue to work hard and pray hard so that God will give us the power to appreciate and apply ourselves to the problem.
“The people who elected us, they know the promises we made within the time…the circumstances which we find ourselves…we will keep on trying and continue to do our best.”
Earlier, Fayemi, whose delegation included his counterparts from Yobe State, Alhaji Mai Mala-Buni; and Niger State, Alhaji Sani Bello, had commiserated with the federal government over the death of the military officers and men, stressing that the incident is deeply felt by the president.
He said when governors canvassed changing of service chiefs, the president heeded, adding that the impact of the action is already being felt.
He described the death of the officers as a big blow but added that the war against insecurity must be won.
He said: “We’ve read your statement and this delegation of governors consider it a duty and as part of our obligation as your representatives to commiserate with you over the loss of your gallant officers. We know it is an event that has touched you. When we mentioned the necessity for a change of service chiefs, you were determined to get the best set of people, you gave your assurance and the military was beginning to feel the impact. We know that this is a major blow and you’re unrelenting in your quest/commitment to ensure peace and security in our country.
“It’s unfortunate the losses we have suffered. We only pray God gives both the families and the country the fortitude to bear the loss, pray that God gives our country greater resolve to continue on the path that the late COAS towed.
“For us, we must defeat banditry, insurgency, and criminality. That’s the mandate you gave them. This should not lead to any retreat or surrender on our part.
“As you have promised, we know that our country will do everything to ensure that the administration will do all to take care of the families of the departed officers. It’s an indication of how protected the active officers would be.”