The Muslim Congress (TMC), a faith-based organisation, has condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian military on the death of 11 military personnel in a plane crash in Kaduna.
In its condolence message issued in Lagos on Tuesday and signed by Alhaji AbdulWaasi’i Bangbala, the Amir (President), the TMC called for a thorough investigation into the crash of the military Beechcraft King Air 350i in which the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other officers died at the Kaduna International Airport.
Bangbala said that an inquest into three air mishaps involving Nigeria Air Force aircraft within three months should provide a panacea to stem future occurrence.
“We received the shocking news of the unfortunate incident with shock and we use this opportunity to commiserate with the wives, children and extended family members of our fallen heroes.
“We also commiserate with their professional colleagues in the Army and the entire Nigerian Armed Forces.
“May Allah give all of you the grace and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Amin,’’ the TMC president prayed.
The organisation also expressed its heartfelt condolence to President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo.
“We commiserate with all Nigerians on the death of our military heroes who have paid the supreme price in the course of protecting the dignity and integrity of the nation.
“Though a very unfortunate incident, it is consoling that they died in active service to the nation.’’
Bangbala charged all Nigerians to do all that is humanly possible to “discharge our duties and responsibilities in providing effective, efficient, qualitative and reliable services in all areas of human life’’.
He said that all citizens should continue to contribute their quota to the development of the country, being stakeholders in the ‘Project Nigeria’.
“We urge the Nigerian Air Force to investigate the cause of this recent plane crash alongside the other two plane crashes that occurred in the last three months.
“A probe of the aircraft should also help to determine the next course of action in preventing the air crashes that have taken the lives of our gallant soldiers.
“It is our solemn prayer that Allah, in His infinite mercy, will put an end to these unfortunate incidents and grant victory to our gallant soldiers as they continue to protect the nation from terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.’’
