The first of the three-day prayer event for the repose of the soul of the late Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, who died alongside ten others in a crash on Friday, began today.
Conducting the prayers, the Director, Islamic Affairs, Nigerian Army and the Chief Imam, Brigadier General Shehu Garba Mustapha, prayed to God to forgive the shortcomings of the departed souls and grant them eternal rest in Aljannah Firdaus as well as console their families, friends and colleagues.
TheFact Nigeria recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast in all public buildings, facilities, and official residences across the country. Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, had, in a statement on Sunday, said that the directive, which takes effect from Monday, 24 May, was to honour the memory and services of the fallen heroes. Mustapha added that the President had approved Monday as a work-free day for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Fielding questions from newsmen after the prayers, the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Lucky Irabor, charged members of the Armed Forces to remain steadfast in the discharge of their constitutional roles adding that the death of the COAS and others will not be in vain.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion include the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (Rtd), Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, Chairman Senate Committee on Army, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, former Minister of Interior and one time COAS, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Ishiaku Amao, former Governor of Adamawa State and one time Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako, Chairman/CEO NDLEA Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Principal Staff Officers from Defence, Army and sister Services Headquarters, top government functionaries, members of Defence and Police Officers Wives Association and members of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association, among several others.
