Ondo NAF Jet Crash: Tinubu Declares Three-Day Mourning

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

President Bola Tinubu has directed that flags be flown at half-mast throughout the country for three days in honour of personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), who died on Monday when a military plane crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State.

Yesterday morning, a small plane carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members crashed in the swampy Igbokoda area of Ondo State, with no survivors seen at the moment.

It was disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 jet, which was going to Lagos from Benin City, Edo State, was off radar some minutes past 9 am.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Monday night, the President “declared a three-day national mourning for Air Force personnel” involved in the air mishap.

This was after he earlier expressed profound sadness over the unfortunate incident, which occurred near a naval base.

“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,” President Tinubu declared in a condolence message to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and all officers, airmen, and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force.

​“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,” he stated.

The statement revealed that the Air Force would release the officers’ names after contacting their families.