The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed skepticism over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's order of investigation into the crash of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) 931 plane in Ondo State. The group believes that the probe, ordered by Tinubu, may not be transparent and accountable given the lack of disclosures of findings from similar investigations in the past. The plane crash occurred in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State, resulting in the deaths of 25 Nigerians, including school children.
Tinubu had ordered an investigation into the military aircraft crash and declared three days of national mourning. However, HURIWA dismissed the presidential order as "mere media gimmicks" aimed at portraying a government concerned about the tragic incident. The group pointed out that previous investigations have failed to be unveiled to the public, and the hierarchy of the Nigerian armed forces has not implemented measures to prevent continuous crashes of military aircraft.
According to HURIWA, between 2015 and 2023, Nigeria suffered a total of 14 military air crashes, resulting in the loss of 15 aircraft. These crashes killed no fewer than 33 military personnel, while the whereabouts of two personnel are still unknown. The group raised questions about why concrete actions have not been taken to check these frequent military aircraft accidents.
The group recalled several notable crashes, including one on February 22, 2021, when seven NAF personnel died in a plane crash shortly after takeoff from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport. The personnel were on their way from Abuja to Minna, Niger State, to rescue abducted students and workers of Government Science College, Kagara. Another prominent crash occurred on May 21, 2021, when a military Beachcraft 350 aircraft crashed at the Kaduna International Airport, killing 11 people onboard, including the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.
HURIWA also mentioned that on July 18, 2021, an Alpha Jet Aircraft crashed in Zamfara after being shot down by bandits, but the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, escaped. In April 2022, a trainer aircraft crashed in Kaduna, killing two pilots on board. The group noted that the causes of these incidents have not been made public, despite assurances by the Nigerian Air Force and the Federal government.
The rights group emphasized that the repeated failures of past investigations to be unveiled to the public and the failures of the hierarchy of the Nigerian armed forces to implement measures to prevent continuous crashes of military aircraft demonstrate that the Nigerian government is not serious about addressing the issue. HURIWA therefore questioned the effectiveness of Tinubu's investigation order.
In response to the recent crash, the Nigerian government can take concrete actions to prevent future accidents and ensure accountability. The group urged the government to take a more transparent and proactive approach to addressing the issue of military aircraft crashes. The government must provide a clear explanation of the causes of these crashes and take steps to prevent them.
Key points
- HURIWA questions the effectiveness of President Tinubu's investigation order into the NAF plane crash.
- The group cites lack of transparency in past probes into military aircraft crashes.
- Nigeria suffered 14 military air crashes between 2015 and 2023, resulting in 33 deaths.
