The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as other stakeholders have called for an extensive probe into plane crashes in the country especially the most recent involving the Chief of Army Staff, General Ibrahim Attahiru and ten other military officers at the Kaduna International Airport on Friday, May 21.

On March 31, an NAF Alpha jet went missing with two officers on board. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, stated that there were extensive efforts to find the crashed aircraft and both pilots. Also, in February, an Air Force plane crashed in Abuja killing seven.

The party, in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, titled ‘Plane Crash: PDP Mourns COAS, Others…Demands Probe into Military Plane,’ mourned the officers, saying the deceased were heroes.

The statement read: “Our party commiserates with the military high command, the families of Lt.-Gen. Attahiru and the other officers and men who have paid the supreme price for the security of our nation and prays God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

“The PDP, however, demands an extensive inquest into this military plane crash as well as the last two in which the lives of officers were lost. The party urges Nigerians to be alert and continue to pray for our fighting men and women, who are risking their lives at the front to secure our nation.”

Also, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Francis Nwaze, on Saturday, described the incident as a national calamity.

It read: “We are saddened by the unhealthy news of the air crash leading to the death of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff and other crew members onboard on Friday.

“The development is not only shocking but also a national disaster of monumental and colossal loss. While we urge the Federal Government to immediately commence investigation into the matter, we pray God to grant the departed rest in his bosom.”

The House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, in a statement, said the minority caucus was shocked by the tragic incident and demanded a thorough investigation of the circumstances leading to the deaths.