Tinubu expressed condolences to the families of the victims, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and the entire Nigerian Air Force
By Moses Okorie
President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, which claimed the lives of all 32 people on board.
The President also directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the deceased officers and personnel.
The aircraft, which was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, crashed near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area on Monday while on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos.
The aircraft was reported to have lost contact with air traffic controllers at about 9:13 a.m., before its wreckage was located in the swampy area near the naval base. Search and rescue operations were immediately activated by the Nigerian Air Force in collaboration with relevant authorities and emergency agencies.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu expressed condolences to the families of the victims, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and the entire Nigerian Air Force.
The President described the incident as a painful moment for the Armed Forces and the nation, noting that Air Force personnel routinely risk their lives in the service of the country.
Tinubu also ordered the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash, with a view to preventing a recurrence.
He commended the Air Force for its prompt search and rescue response, as well as first responders and the Ondo State Government for their efforts at the crash site.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo had earlier confirmed that the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, crashed after travelling from Benin to Lagos. He said the wreckage was subsequently located close to the naval base in Igbokoda.
The Nigerian Air Force has identified the aircraft as an ATR-42, a twin-engine turboprop configured for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
The identities of the deceased personnel will be released by the Air Force after their families have been formally notified, according to the Presidency.
Meanwhile, residents in the area said they heard a loud sound around the time of the crash. Footage from the scene showed rescue personnel searching the swampy area by boat.
The crash has plunged the Nigerian military and the wider country into mourning as authorities begin investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.