President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a three-day national mourning period for Nigerian Air Force personnel involved in the crash of an ATR-42 military aircraft in Ondo State.
The President also ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast across Nigeria as a mark of respect for the victims.
The aircraft, carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, crashed near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State while travelling from Benin to Lagos on a routine mission. The incident occurred on Monday morning in the Illaje area of the state.
Although authorities had not initially released the identities of those on board, officials reported that search-and-rescue teams found wreckage, aircraft debris, identification cards and a military uniform at the site. The names of the personnel will be made public after their families have been notified.
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said there were no confirmed survivors at the time of his remarks. Speaking to Channels Television, he said rescuers had not found anyone alive but had located the remains of the aircraft.
“They could not see any living soul that was in that aircraft,” the governor said, describing the crash as a painful tragedy for the state and the country.
Tinubu expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the victims’ families, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and the wider Nigerian Air Force.
“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation,” Tinubu said. “Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
The President directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately begin a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash, with the aim of preventing similar incidents in the future.
He also commended the Air Force for promptly activating search-and-rescue operations, as well as first responders and the Ondo State Government for their efforts at the crash site.
Minister of State for Defence Bello Muhammad Matawalle described the deaths as a profound loss to Nigeria’s Armed Forces and a stark reminder of the risks military personnel face in the line of duty.
He said the Ministry of Defence remained committed to protecting military personnel, maintaining the highest operational-safety standards and supporting the Armed Forces in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.
The Peoples Democratic Party also expressed condolences to the Nigerian Air Force and the families of the victims. Its National Chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the crash.
The party said the loss of the personnel was deeply painful, noting the sacrifices made by Nigeria’s service members in defending the country’s unity and territorial integrity.
As the investigation begins, the crash has prompted national mourning and renewed attention to aircraft safety, military aviation operations and the risks faced by Nigerian service personnel.
