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Nigeria was plunged into mourning on Monday after a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, killing all 32 people aboard and triggering a wave of grief across the country.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, visibly shaken by the tragedy, declared three days of national mourning for the fallen Air Force personnel and directed that the Nigerian flag be flown at half-mast nationwide in honour of the victims.
TheMatrix Newspaper reports that the aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members when it went down near a naval base in Igbokoda while undertaking a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos.
The crash, one of the deadliest military aviation disasters in recent years, occurred after air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m. on Monday.
The wreckage was later located in the Igbokoda area, with debris and personal effects scattered around the crash site.
The tragedy immediately set off a massive emergency operation involving the Nigerian Air Force, security agencies, emergency responders and the Ondo State Government.
By Monday evening, however, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said the search had produced no survivor.
“From the information we got, no single life was saved up to this moment. They could not see any living soul that was in that aircraft,” Aiyedatiwa said.
Tinubu: Their sacrifice will never be forgotten
Reacting to the disaster, Tinubu described the crash as a devastating blow to the Armed Forces and the entire country, saying the victims had paid the ultimate price in service to Nigeria.
“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation,” the President said.
“Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
The President said Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, had briefed him on the incident and disclosed that he had ordered an immediate and thorough investigation.
“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,” Tinubu said.
He also commended the NAF for immediately activating search-and-rescue operations and praised first responders and the Ondo State Government for their intervention.
Tinubu added:
“I pray for the repose of the souls of the gallant officers and for Almighty God to grant their families and the Nigerian Air Force the fortitude to bear the unfortunate loss.”
He assured the Air Force of the continued support of his administration as the service carries out its responsibilities of protecting the nation.
Aiyedatiwa mobilises Ondo emergency machinery
For Aiyedatiwa, the tragedy struck particularly close to home as the aircraft came down in the riverine community of Igbokoda.
The governor immediately ordered the mobilisation of the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency, Ministry of Health and relevant security agencies, directing them to provide logistics and human support for the rescue operation.
Aiyedatiwa said he was in contact with the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force, the chairman of Ilaje Local Government and security agencies deployed to the scene.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor expressed “heartfelt sympathy” to the Chief of Air Staff, the Nigerian Air Force and the families of all personnel and passengers aboard the ill-fated aircraft.
Obi mourns ‘courageous’ servicemen
The tragedy also drew an immediate response from Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), who mourned the dead and commiserated with the Nigerian Air Force and the bereaved families.
Obi said:
“My thoughts and prayers are with the Nigerian Air Force. I was deeply saddened to learn of the crash involving a Nigerian Air Force aircraft.”
He added: “I offer my sincere condolences to the Nigerian Air Force, the families of the officers and personnel who perished, and their colleagues and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Obi described the fallen personnel as courageous Nigerians who devoted their lives to defending the country.
“These courageous men and women devote their lives to defending our nation and safeguarding our people. Their service and sacrifice must never be overlooked.”
He prayed for the eternal repose of the dead, comfort for their families and strength for the Nigerian Air Force and the wider Armed Forces.
“May God continue to watch over all who serve our country and protect them as they carry out their duties.”
Defence Minister: An irreparable blow
Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), described the deaths as an “irreparable blow” to the military and the nation.
Musa said he received the news with a “profound sense of grief and heavy heart”, stressing that the victims represented the highest ideals of military service.
“The loss of these valiant patriots is an irreparable blow not only to the military high command and their comrades-in-arms, but to the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
According to the Defence Minister, the fallen personnel:“exemplify the highest standards of military professionalism, loyalty, and commitment to the defence of our Fatherland.”
Musa said a comprehensive investigation had been ordered to establish what caused the disaster and strengthen safety measures across military aviation units.
“A comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate crash has been ordered to ascertain the cause and ensure all necessary operational safety protocols are reinforced across our military aviation units,” he said.
He also extended condolences to Tinubu, the Armed Forces leadership and the families of the victims.
“Our hearts also go out to the families of the civilians on board the ill-fated aircraft; we share your grief,” Musa added.
Air Force launches desperate rescue operation
Earlier, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed that the service had activated an immediate search-and-rescue operation following the accident.
The aircraft was identified as an ATR-42, a twin-engine turboprop aircraft used by the Air Force primarily for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, including maritime patrol.
The two ATR-42 aircraft in the NAF inventory were acquired from Alenia Aeronautica under a 2007 contract. The aircraft involved in Monday’s disaster, NAF 931, was delivered to Nigeria in 2010 and had undergone major maintenance in Germany, returning to the country in late 2024.
The circumstances surrounding Monday’s crash remained unclear as of the time of filing.
Air traffic controllers reportedly established communication with the aircraft shortly after take-off before contact was lost. Repeated attempts to re-establish communication failed before the aircraft was confirmed to have crashed in the Igbokoda area.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, was among the first senior officials to confirm the disaster publicly.
Keyamo said: “I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, enroute Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive.”
He subsequently confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
“The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing. Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board.”
Keyamo also clarified that military aircraft fall outside the regulatory control of the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, but said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff and pledged the ministry’s “total cooperation and assistance” to the rescue effort.
And with the Nigerian flag ordered to fly at half-mast for three days, Tinubu’s declaration has formally turned the sorrow of the Armed Forces into a period of national mourning.
The President’s order for a thorough investigation now puts the military hierarchy under pressure to answer the questions that remain.
