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| President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu |
President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning and ordered national flags flown at half-mast nationwide following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft that killed all 32 people on board in Ondo State.
The aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was on a routine flight from Benin to Lagos when it went down near a naval base in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, on 5 October 2026. Air traffic controllers lost radio contact at approximately 9:13 a.m. The wreckage was later located in a difficult-to-access area.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the loss as painful for the Armed Forces and the country. “This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Tinubu said.
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He directed the Nigerian Air Force to begin an immediate and thorough investigation into the cause of the accident to help prevent future incidents. The Chief of Air Staff had briefed him on the matter. The President also praised the Air Force for quickly launching search-and-rescue operations and thanked first responders and the Ondo State Government for their support.
The Air Force will release the names of the 25 passengers and seven crew members only after their families have been notified.
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa instructed the State Emergency Management Agency, the Ministry of Health, and security agencies to provide logistical and personnel support and to secure the crash site. An eyewitness account described residents and security personnel using canoes and a gunboat to reach the area; the terrain forced teams to continue on foot through damaged vegetation. No survivors were found at the scene.
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed it had activated search-and-rescue efforts in coordination with other agencies. Its spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, stated that further details would be released as they become available. The Ondo State Police Command urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information while emergency operations continue.
The declaration of national mourning and the ordered investigation underscore the gravity of the loss for the Nigerian military and the nation.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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