Nigeria Declares Three-Day Mourning for 32 Jet Crash Victims, Orders Flags at Half-Mast

By Olabisi Akinpelu and Temitope Adebiyi

The Federal Republic of Nigeria mourns the tragic loss of a Nigerian Air Force maritime surveillance aircraft, which crashed yesterday.

A Lagos-bound aircraft crashed in a swampy area near Ita-Oko Island, Igbokoda, killing all 32 people onboard, including 25 passengers and seven crew members.

Just 13 minutes after departing Benin City, the aircraft lost radar contact and crashed at around 9:26 a.m.

Last night, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a three-day mourning period to honor the victims of the painful accident

The President, in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said: “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.

“The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences.

“I commend the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate Search and Rescue operation following the accident.

“I pray for the repose of the souls of the gallant officers and for Almighty God to grant their families and the Nigerian Air Force the fortitude to bear the unfortunate loss.

“I assure the Nigerian Air Force of the continued support of our administration as they continue their vital role in securing our nation.

“I also commend the swift response of first responders and the Ondo State Government at the crash site.”

The President directed that flags be flown at half-mast nationwide as a mark of respect for the service personnel onboard the aircraft.

Sources said some of the passengers onboard included women and children, but this could not be confirmed by the NAF last night.

It was also gathered that the military suspected there might have been a mid-air explosion, considering the scattered wreckage of the aircraft picked up by first responders.

A source said the river into which the airframe crashed was shallow but swampy, making it difficult to locate the victims.

As of 9pm, rescuers, including operatives of the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbokoda, were still at the crash scene in the hope that they could rescue any survivors.

The responders were also working to salvage critical parts of the aircraft that could assist investigators in unravelling the remote and immediate causes of the crash.

The names of the deceased might be released today after the NAF has contacted their families.

In an earlier statement, the President directed a full investigation into the crash.

The President also assured the Air Force of his administration’s continued support.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) offered to join the NAF in the investigation.

NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said search-and-rescue operations were ongoing at the site in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency agencies.

Eyewitness accounts

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said he got word of the crash at about 10:30am from the Ilaje council chairman.

He told Channels Television that residents heard a sound like an air tremor and felt the ground shake, adding that some saw the aircraft nosedive into the swamp.

He said there was no smoke or fire.

Ilaje Council Chairman Maurice Oripelaye gave a different account.

He told our reporter that the aircraft was engulfed in fire and badly burnt, and that a burnt military uniform was found in the wreckage.

The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, said the aircraft fell across a river into a bushy, waterlogged area.

He believed the water prevented a major fire but said the impact smashed the aircraft and that a substantial part of it had gone into the water.

“Our first gratitude is to Almighty God that it did not crash inside the town,” he said.

A resident, Oluboyo Olusola, said people rushed to the scene but could not get close because of the swampy terrain.

The crash created tension in the coastal community as residents gathered while security personnel moved to secure the site.

Rescue effort

Aiyedatiwa said Navy personnel were the first responders.

They initially kept their distance for fear of an explosion but moved closer when they saw no fire and began looking for survivors.

Local emergency officials and operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) later joined them.

The governor said no survivor had been found, and that identity cards and military uniforms recovered from the wreckage showed that the aircraft was a military one.

He directed the State Emergency Management Agency, the Ministry of Health and security agencies to mobilise personnel, equipment and logistics, and ordered the site cordoned off to allow unhindered rescue work.

The governor sympathised with the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), officers and men of the NAF, and the families of those onboard, appealing to residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information.

The Ondo State Police Command, through its spokesman, Jimoh Abayomi, made a similar appeal.

He urged residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities to rely on official sources for information.

Keyamo: Aircraft disappeared from radar

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said air traffic controllers informed him that the aircraft, flying from Benin to Lagos, disappeared from radar at 9:13am and efforts to reach it by radio failed.

He said the wreckage was later located near the Naval Base.

In a statement on his X handle, he said the control and regulation of military aircraft were outside the authority of his ministry and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

He said he had spoken with the CAS and pledged total cooperation in the search-and-rescue efforts.

NSIB, NCAA offer technical support

Director-General, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said the Bureau was ready to assist the NAF if formally asked.

He said that under the NSIB Establishment Act 2022 and international practice, military aviation accidents are investigated by the military authority.

He said any assistance could include deploying investigators and using the Bureau’s Flight Safety Laboratory to recover and analyse flight recorder data.

He urged the public to rely only on official NAF updates.

NCAA Director-General, Captain Chris Najomo, said the Authority was monitoring developments and ready to provide technical expertise as required, in line with national emergency response protocols.

Musa orders probe, tighter safety protocols

Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd.), said a comprehensive investigation had been ordered to ascertain the cause of the crash and reinforce operational safety protocols across military aviation units.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, described the dead as “dedicated officers and airmen”, calling the loss “an irreparable blow” to the military high command, their colleagues and the nation.

He condoled with Tinubu, the leadership of the Armed Forces and the families of the fallen, and extended sympathy to the families of the civilians on board.

“Our hearts also go out to the families of the civilians on board the ill-fated aircraft; we share your grief,” he said.

Senate panel mourns

Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, called the crash a “sad day for the Nigerian military” and commiserated with the NAF, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and the bereaved families.

“As a retired military officer, I understand the pain and weight of this loss,” he said.

He pledged the committee’s continued support for efforts to improve the safety, welfare and operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces.

Obi, Sowore mourn

Presidential candidates Peter Obi and Omoyele Sowore condoled with Nigerians over the accident.

Obi described it as a painful loss to the nation and the Armed Forces.

The former Anambra State governor said the affected personnel were courageous men and women who devoted their lives to defending the country, and that their sacrifice should never be overlooked.

He prayed for the repose of their souls and for strength for the Armed Forces.

Sowore called for a thorough and transparent investigation.

Citing videos and images from the scene, he questioned the country’s preparedness for major disasters.

He said the inquiry should also examine how quickly help arrived, what equipment responders had, what obstacles they faced, and whether lives could have been saved with a better-prepared system.