President Bola Tinubu has ordered an investigation into the military aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, which claimed the lives of all 32 people on board.
The aircraft, an ATR-42 belonging to the Nigerian Air Force, was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members when it crashed shortly after 9:00 am on Monday while on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos.
In a statement issued on Monday, Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Tinubu mourned the victims and extended his condolences to their families and the Nigerian Air Force.
Tinubu also commiserated with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, as well as officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force over the tragedy.
“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 was quoted as saying.
The president commended the Nigerian Air Force for immediately activating a search and rescue operation after the aircraft went down, while also acknowledging the response of first responders and the Ondo State Government at the crash site.
He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased officers and for God to give their families and the Nigerian Air Force the strength to bear the loss.
Tinubu also assured the Nigerian Air Force of the continued support of his administration as it carries out its responsibilities in securing the country.
The crash occurred in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, with Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, saying the aircraft went down near a naval base.
Keyamo and Tinubu described the aircraft as an ATR-42, a twin-engine turboprop aircraft manufactured to carry between 30 and 50 passengers.
The Nigerian Air Force had earlier confirmed the accident, saying the aircraft crashed while on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.
In a statement by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF said it immediately commenced a search and rescue operation following the crash.
“The Nigerian Air Force has commenced an immediate Search and Rescue operation following an ATR-42 aircraft accident in Igbokoda Area of Ondo State on 5th October 2026,” Ejodame said.
According to the NAF, its personnel were working alongside relevant authorities and emergency response agencies as part of efforts at the crash site.
Meanwhile, presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore expressed sadness over the incident and called for a broader investigation into both the cause of the crash and Nigeria’s emergency response capacity.
Sowore sympathised with the families and loved ones of those aboard the aircraft, as well as affected Nigerian Air Force officers and personnel.
He said videos and images from the crash site had raised questions about the country’s preparedness to respond to major disasters, arguing that emergency teams should be properly equipped and capable of reaching difficult terrain quickly.
Sowore called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the crash, saying it should establish not only what caused the accident but also how the emergency response was handled.
He said the investigation should examine how quickly assistance arrived, the equipment available to responders, the obstacles encountered at the scene and whether lives could have been saved with a better-prepared emergency system.
“A disaster is tragic. Being unprepared to respond to one makes the tragedy even more painful,” Sowore said.
He said his thoughts remained with everyone aboard the aircraft, their families and the communities affected by the crash.
