ABUJA, Oct. 6, 2026 – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has released the names of all 25 people who died when one of its ATR-42 aircraft crashed in Ondo State on Monday.
The aircraft, NAF 931, went down in the Igbokoda area minutes after taking off from Benin for Lagos on what the service described as a routine mission. It carried five crew members and 20 passengers. There were no survivors.
In a statement issued Tuesday, NAF spokesman Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame listed the crew as Squadron Leader MI Aburime (Flight Captain), Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje (Co-pilot), Flight Lieutenant IS Bako (Co-pilot), Warrant Officer Abubakar A and Corporal Uguru HC (both Aircraft Technicians).
The passengers were Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus, Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye, Flying Officer IM Adeshina, Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F, Master Warrant Officer Matini BA, Warrant Officer Nuhu FS, Flight Sergeant James RB, Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI, Sergeant Ani AE, Sergeant Izibenikien SI, Sergeant Alafuka C, Sergeant Mbadugha AN, Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC, Lance Corporal Eledan GE, Mrs Ezeh Nneka, Godstmine Tarabina, Joy Micheal, Sunday Micheal, Ukeme David and Gideon Omotola.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, offered condolences to the families, loved ones and colleagues of the dead. He called the crash a deeply painful moment for the Air Force and the nation, and assured the bereaved of the service’s full support.
Aneke has ordered a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances of the accident.
“The Nigerian Air Force will continue to provide timely and verified updates as the investigation progresses,” the statement said. It urged the public to refrain from speculation and the circulation of unverified information, and to respect the privacy and dignity of the affected families.
The Ondo State government has deployed a medical team and ambulances to the crash site. Governors have also mourned the victims, while Vice President Kashim Shettima said the nation will stand by the families of the fallen officers beyond mourning.
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