The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, with military personnel and some members of their families reportedly on board.
The aircraft was said to have been on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when the incident occurred.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the military received the news of the crash with deep shock.
“The Defence Headquarters has received with deep shock the news of the unfortunate crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State,” Uba said.
He said the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos and had military personnel and some members of their families on board.
The confirmation came after reports emerged of the crash, with residents in the area describing the aftermath of the incident and the recovery efforts at the crash site.
Earlier eyewitness accounts had raised concerns that women and children could be among those aboard the aircraft. The Defence Headquarters, however, did not initially provide the total number of passengers or an official breakdown of those on board in its statement confirming the crash.
The Nigerian Air Force later released the names of personnel and family members who died in the crash, adding to the grief surrounding the incident.
The Defence Headquarters said search and rescue operations were ongoing at the crash site, with the Nigerian Air Force working in collaboration with sister services and emergency response agencies.
The military also said an investigation would be conducted to determine the circumstances and cause of the accident.
“In compliance with the directive of the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, investigation will be conducted to ascertain the cause of the accident, while Search and Rescue efforts by the NAF in collaboration with sister Services and emergency agencies continue at the site,” the statement said.
The Defence Headquarters expressed condolences to the families and loved ones of those involved in the crash, as well as the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the Nigerian Air Force and the wider Armed Forces.
The military urged members of the public to avoid speculation and allow the ongoing search, rescue and investigation processes to run their course.
It also appealed to the public to respect the privacy of the affected families as the authorities continue to manage the aftermath of the tragedy.
“The leadership of the Armed Forces wishes to assure all Nigerians that the Armed Forces will remain resolute and committed to our constitutional mandate of securing the nation, despite this painful setback,” the Defence Headquarters said.
The crash has triggered grief within the military community, particularly among families and colleagues of those on board, while attention remains focused on the recovery operation and the investigation expected to establish what caused the Nigerian Air Force aircraft to crash near Igbokoda.