President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning following a Nigeria military plane crash in Ondo State that killed all 32 people on board.
The Nigerian Air Force ATR 42 aircraft was travelling from Benin City to Lagos on a routine mission when it crashed near Igbokoda on Monday, October 5. The aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members. There were no survivors.
Tinubu also ordered national flags to be flown at half mast across Nigeria throughout the mourning period.
“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation,” he said in a statement issued by the Presidency.
“Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”- President Tinubu
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at 0813 GMT while it was en route to Lagos.
The wreckage was later located near the coastal town of Igbokoda in Ondo State, where search and rescue teams were deployed.
The crash ranks among Nigeria’s deadliest military aviation accidents in recent years.
Tinubu extended condolences to the families of those killed, as well as the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and personnel of the Nigerian Air Force.
Tinubu Orders Full Investigation
The President has directed the Air Force to begin an immediate investigation into the cause of the crash.
“The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences,” - President Tinubu
Authorities have not yet publicly identified the victims. The Presidency said the names of the officers would be released only after their families had been formally informed.
The investigation is expected to examine the aircraft’s technical condition, flight operations and events leading up to the loss of communication.
Military Aviation Safety Back in Focus
Nigeria has recorded several fatal military aviation accidents over the past five years.
In May 2021, then Army Chief Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others died when a military aircraft crashed near Kaduna. Three months earlier, seven Air Force personnel were killed when a plane crashed shortly after departing Abuja.
The latest accident comes as the Nigerian Air Force remains heavily involved in security operations across the country, including missions targeting armed groups and supporting troops in areas affected by insecurity.
Tinubu commended emergency teams and the Ondo State Government for their response to the crash and said the federal government would continue supporting the Air Force as the investigation proceeds.
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