A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, NAF 931, crashed on October 6, 2026, minutes after taking off from Benin Airport, en route to Lagos. The aircraft was carrying 20 passengers and five crew members. It had developed an engine fault overnight in Benin City and was cleared to fly the following morning. The crash occurred at about 9:13 a.m. in the Obe-Rebby swamp in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Twenty-one days after the crash, families of the victims have not seen a single body to give their loved ones a befitting burial. Relatives told SaharaReporters that they had not received a detailed briefing on the recovery operation since the initial press statement confirming the crash. The families expressed frustration and disappointment, saying they were unable to bury their loved ones without seeing their bodies.
The swamp, located near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, is a dense, waterlogged mangrove forest that has complicated recovery efforts. Local divers and fishermen initially volunteered to assist with the operation but were later asked to stay away by security operatives. A community source in Ilaje said the place where the aircraft crashed is a deep swamp that requires a swamp buggy to access.
The NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, did not respond to efforts to obtain a reaction from him as of press time. Calls and messages sent to his known phone line were not returned. SaharaReporters had previously reported on the journey of NAF 931, which began from Abuja on Sunday, October 5, and developed an engine fault in Benin.
The aircraft was supposed to fly directly from Abuja to Lagos but had to stop in Benin to disembark some passengers. During the stop, the engine fault was detected, forcing technicians to work on the aircraft throughout the night. The aircraft was cleared to fly the following morning, a decision that ended in tragedy a few minutes after take-off.
SaharaReporters also reported that the NAF's two ATR-42MP aircraft, originally acquired for maritime patrol and surveillance, had over the years been converted into VIP shuttles for politicians, top government officials, and other civilians. The sister aircraft to the crashed NAF 931, NAF 930, was used in 2022 to land at the newly constructed Ekiti Cargo Airport.
The conversion of the aircraft for non-operational use has raised questions about safety and maintenance. Civilians had openly posted on social media about flying on both aircraft for administrative and personal trips. The crash has highlighted concerns about the use of military aircraft for civilian purposes and the need for improved safety measures.
Key points
- The Nigerian Air Force has not provided a detailed briefing on the recovery operation.
- The crash has raised concerns about the conversion of military aircraft for civilian use.
- Families of the victims are yet to recover the bodies of their loved ones.
