President Muhammadu Buhari has joined other world leaders in mourning India’s Chief of Defence Staff, Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 others killed in a helicopter crash.
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.
A statement by the president’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, in Abuja quoted the Nigerian leader as saying the late military chief was widely credited with the reform of the Indian armed forces and the security apparatuses.
“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.
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Mr Rawat was India’s first chief of defence staff, a position that the government established in 2019, and was seen as close to Mr Modi.
The 63-year-old was travelling with his wife and other senior officers in the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter, which crashed near its destination in southern Tamil Nadu state.
Mr Modi said Mr Rawat was an outstanding soldier and “true patriot” who had helped modernise the country’s armed forces.
(NAN)
