Attahiru and 10 other military officers were on board a military aircraft that crashed in Kaduna State on Friday, May 21, 2021. All the victims were buried at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, on Saturday, May 22, but President Buhari skipped the ceremony despite only being minutes away, a decision that drew public criticism. The president described the late Attahiru as an outstanding soldier and an institution builder when he spoke on the phone to his wife on Sunday, May 23. He hailed the sacrifices of the deceased military men and the Armed Forces in general, noting that Nigerians will continue to appreciate and support their efforts.