Tinubu Mourns 32 Victims of Ondo Military Aircraft Crash, Orders Probe
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the fatal Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State as a “painful moment” for the Armed Forces and the entire country.
The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed on Monday near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, while travelling from Benin City to Lagos on a routine mission.
The aircraft had 25 passengers and seven crew members on board. Authorities have confirmed that all 32 people aboard the aircraft died in the crash.
Reacting to the tragedy, President Tinubu expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, as well as the leadership and personnel of the Nigerian Air Force.
The President said the sacrifice of Air Force personnel who put their lives on the line in the service of the country would not be forgotten.
“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation,” Tinubu said in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu also directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
According to the President, the investigation is expected to establish the cause of the accident and help prevent a similar occurrence in the future.
The Nigerian Air Force had activated search and rescue operations after the aircraft went down, while first responders and the Ondo State Government joined efforts at the crash site.
The crash has since triggered widespread grief across Nigeria, particularly within the military community and among the families of those aboard the aircraft.
In a further response to the tragedy, Tinubu declared three days of national mourning for the Air Force personnel who died in the crash. He also directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country as a mark of respect for the deceased.
The Presidency said the Nigerian Air Force would release the names of the officers who died after their families had been contacted.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the crash, saying the exercise would examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and safety procedures within military aviation units.
As investigations begin, attention is now focused on determining what caused the aircraft to crash during its routine journey from Benin City to Lagos.
The tragedy adds to a difficult period for Nigeria’s military and has renewed attention on the safety of military aviation operations in the country.