President Tinubu declares three-day national mourning and orders flags at half-mast for NAF personnel who died in the Ondo aircraft crash.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a three-day national mourning for Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel who died in Monday’s military aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The President also directed that flags be flown at half-mast across the country as a mark of respect for the deceased officers.
The directive followed the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State.
The aircraft, which was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos, had 25 passengers and seven crew members on board.
Tinubu had earlier expressed sadness over the crash and directed the Nigerian Air Force to commence a thorough investigation into its cause.
In a condolence message to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, the President described the incident as a painful moment for the Armed Forces and the country.
“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 said.
The President said the Chief of the Air Staff had briefed him on the incident and directed the NAF to investigate the cause of the crash to help prevent future occurrences.
He also commended the Nigerian Air Force for immediately activating a search and rescue operation following the accident.
The Presidency said the Air Force would release the names of the deceased personnel after their families had been contacted.
The crash has prompted a separate investigation by the military authorities. The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and the reinforcement of operational safety protocols across military aviation units.
The aircraft crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State while travelling from Benin City to Lagos. The Nigerian Air Force had earlier confirmed that search and rescue operations were activated in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
President Tinubu’s three-day national mourning places the country in an official period of remembrance for the personnel who lost their lives in the crash, while the investigation is expected to establish the circumstances that led to the accident.
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