President Muhammadu Buhari has joined other world leaders to mourn India’s Chief of Defence Staff, Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 others killed who were killed in a helicopter crash.
A statement by the senior special assistant, media and publicity to the president, Garba Shehu, quoted the president as saying the late military chief was widely credited with the reform of the Indian armed forces and the security apparatuses.
In a message to the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Thursday, President Buhari described the deaths as irreparable losses to the Indian military and the nation.
“On behalf of myself, the government and people of Nigeria, I convey to you our deepest condolences, to the Rawat family, the families of the deceased as well as the Indian Military and nation as you mourn the Chief of Defence Staff, his wife and 11 other fine crop of officers,” the president said.
General Rawat was a four-star general and India’s first chief of defence staff of the Indian Armed Forces from January 2020 until his death.
The 63-year-old, his wife and members of his staff were amongst 10 passengers and 4 crew members aboard an Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 helicopter flight which crashed near its destination in Nilgiris district on their way to the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) where the general was meant to deliver a lecture.
The sad incidence was confirmed by the Indian Air Force. However, Rawat’s liaison officer, Group Captain Varun Singh was the sole survivor.
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