Nigerian army chief dies in air force plane crash

ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria's army chief, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, died in a plane crash on an official visit to the northern state of Kaduna, which has had security challenges in recent months, the presidency said.

The air force said in a statement that its plane crashed near Kaduna airport and that it was investigating the cause.

The presidency said the army general and other military officers died in the crash on Friday.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in a presidency statement, described the crash as a "mortal blow ... at a time our armed forces are poised to end the security challenges facing the country."

The crash occurred three months after a small Nigerian air force passenger plane went down just outside Abuja airport following alleged engine failure, killing all seven people on board. read more

Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, has had poor air safety record in the past, although it has improved in recent years.