Top government officials, members of the National assembly, Governors, top military brass, members of the Diplomatic Corps on Saturday joined other dignitaries and hundreds of sympathizers for the jana’iza (funeral prayers) of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru.
The funeral held around 1:30 at the national mosque, Abuja, was attended by the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Minister of Defence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Inspector General of Police, Comptroller General of Immigration, amongst other serving and former public office holders.
The families, friends and associates of the late COAS also found their way to the funeral prayers.
Bodies of the late COAS and five others were brought by military ambulances to the national mosque for the funeral prayers that took place immediately after zuhr prayers.
Our Reporter revealed that the late Chief of Army Staff had since his appointment, had been to Borno State more than six times to supervise ongoing military operations against Boko Haram. He had visited different army formations, mobilised and motivated troops in the front lines in peace building efforts.
Professor Zulum of Borno State submitted that the late COAS was evidently committed to the fight against Boko Haram and was determined to significantly contribute to the ending of insurgency.
He told newsmen that, “The commitment of the late Chief of Army Staff to the fight against Boko Haram was very obvious. Within the short time he served, he had been to Borno on multiple occasions, meeting operational commanders and troops at battle fronts. In all his interactions, he regularly motivated troops. The people of Borno thank him and all our gallant fallen heroes for their unquantifiable service to Borno and rest of Nigeria”.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
