Death And The Generals

There may be need to review aircraft maintenance schedules and operational procedures in the Air Force

At a solemn ceremony yesterday in Abuja, the remains of the Chief of Army staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other officers who died on Friday in a plane crash in Kaduna were laid to rest. Their death while in active service, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, reflects the depth of sacrifice our military officers are often prepared to make in defence of our country. Attahiru, who spent just four months in office was the second army chief to die in a plane crash after Lt. Col. Joseph Akaahan who was killed in a helicopter crash during the civil war in May 1968.

However, with three fatal crashes by the military within a period of 90 days–claiming 20 fatalities, all of them senior officers of our armed forces–questions are being asked by critical stakeholders. As air accidents go, the objects of blame usually range from human error, the vagaries of nature (i.e. weather condition) and equipment malfunction. While the details of the exact causes of this unfortunate accident remain yet unknown, we join other Nigerians in mourning the loss of General Attahiru and the other service men. We condole with their families and the entire armed forces.

In line with extant regulations, accident investigation results in respect of military aircraft are classified. So, like previous such investigations, we may never really know the real cause of this tragedy. But the public is entitled to express concern about the frequency of these mishaps and the high toll in human lives. On 21 February, a Minna-bound military aircraft (King Air 350) crashed near the Abuja runway after reporting engine failure. All the seven passengers on board the aircraft died. On 31 March, an Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) went off the radar with two crew members while on their way to offer air support for ground troops fighting Boko Haram insurgents. The two pilots, both flight lieutenants with the air force, were later confirmed dead.

Ordinarily, we can assume a reasonable level of professionalism before military officers are chosen for these assignments that claimed their lives. Only the leadership of the Air Force can attest to the level of maintenance of their fleet of aircraft. But it is worrisome that the lives of 20 senior officers of our armed forces would be terminated in plane crashes within three months. While occasional air mishaps would qualify as accidents, a quick succession of tragedies cannot be overlooked because they may indicate more fundamental problems. The challenge is to review aircraft maintenance schedules and operational procedures in the Air Force, especially the experience and proficiency of their crew members involved in VIP movements. In an atmosphere replete with security challenges, every aspect of the military’s tactical and logistical operations requires rigorous review.

Already, there are fears that the needlessly prolonged stay in office of former service chiefs which led to the premature and sometimes unjust retirement of several experienced hands in the armed forces may now be taking its toll. In the last two Air Force plane crashes, the pilots in charge were young officers. Pilots get better with age but in recent years, many senior officers were retired between ages 45 and 55 despite the investment made on them. Which country spends billions training military human resources and just discard them the way we do in Nigeria? This is an area the military authorities must investigate.

Meanwhile, we hope the effect of these deaths on the morale and psych of our troops will not negatively impact the ongoing military operations in the country. With the vacancy now created by the death of the army chief, President Muhammadu Buhari must act swiftly to appoint a replacement. The military is not an institution where you “hand over to the next most senior officer”, especially in the middle of a war on insurgency. There is need for certainty in the leadership command chain. We also hope the consideration for the choice of who succeeds Attahiru will be based on professionalism and not on any other consideration so that whoever is chosen can quickly move in to reassure the troops who must now be demoralised with the death of their chief in such a tragic circumstance.

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While occasional air mishaps would qualify as accidents, a quick succession of tragedies cannot be overlooked because they may indicate more fundamental problems