The King of Saudi Arabia, Salman Bin Abdulaziz, has commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria over the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 other military officers.
The officers were on board the Air Force jet that crashed in Kaduna on Friday.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, stated that the Saudi King, in a phone call with Buhari, expressed full solidarity with Nigeria following the national tragedy.
Shehu said, “The Saudi King expressed full solidarity with Nigeria following this national tragedy.
“President Buhari and the King exchanged pleasantries on the occasion of the Eid which was marked after the 30-day Ramadan fast and prayed for peace, security and progress in the two nations and the subregions.
“The Saudi King also prayed for the repose of the souls of the military men who lost their lives.
“The conversation by both leaders also covered the deep-rooted ties between the two countries and ways to bolster them across various sectors.
“President Buhari expressed happiness with the King and thanked him for standing with Nigeria in all situations.”
Shehu said Buhari also received a message of commiseration from Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, the Nigerian-born Secretary-General of the Anglican Communion in London.
“Archbishop Idowu-Fearon prayed for the President and the country as the nation mourns the Chief of Army Staff and his top lieutenants at a time when their services were most needed,” Shehu said.
