A Nigerian Air Force aircraft, an ATR-42 with registration number NGR 931, crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday. The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it disappeared from radar at about 9:13 a.m. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, confirmed that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board.
President Bola Tinubu declared a three-day national mourning period following the crash. Flags will be flown at half-mast throughout the country as a mark of respect for the departed officers. The president expressed profound sadness over the incident, stating that the sacrifice of the Air Force personnel will never be forgotten. An investigation into the cause of the crash has been ordered.
Eyewitnesses described the horror of the crash, with one, Oluboyo Olusola, stating that he saw parts of the aircraft, human remains, and personal effects scattered around the swampy area. Olusola explained that the incident occurred around 10 a.m. and that the difficult terrain made access to the crash site challenging. Naval personnel assisted in reaching the area.
The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, also recounted his experience, stating that he was in court when the incident occurred and immediately directed his palace aides to visit the crash site. He feared that the aircraft might have been a commercial passenger plane due to the potentially high number of casualties. The traditional ruler sympathized with the families of the victims.
Another eyewitness described a gory scene, with human flesh and personal belongings littering the ground. The local vigilante and other categories of people left the site in sorrow. Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Honourable Maurice Oripelaye, confirmed that military equipment was recovered from the crash site, but it was too early to establish the number of casualties.
The police in the state confirmed the crash and urged residents to remain calm and refrain from circulating unverified information. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa stated that no survivor had been sighted at the scene of the accident and that there was no fire at the crash site. The Nigerian Navy quickly arrived at the scene and began rescue efforts.
The Nigerian Air Force will release the officers' names after contacting their families. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but preliminary information indicates that 32 people were on board. The incident has sparked an outpouring of condolences, with many sympathizing with the families of the victims.
Key points
- 32 people were on board the ill-fated aircraft.
- President Tinubu declared a three-day national mourning period.
- An investigation into the cause of the crash has been ordered.
