ABUJA/AKURE, October 6, 2026: All 32 people aboard a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) maritime patrol aircraft died yesterday when it crashed in swampy terrain near Ita-Oko Island, Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning.
The Lagos-bound aircraft, carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, left Benin City, Edo State, shortly before 9am. It lost radar contact 13 minutes into the flight and crashed at about 9:26am.
President orders probe
In a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu called the crash “a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation.” He directed the NAF to begin an immediate, thorough investigation to prevent future occurrences, and ordered flags flown at half-mast nationwide. He commended the NAF for activating a search-and-rescue operation, and praised the swift response of first responders and the Ondo State Government.
The Defence Minister, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd.), also ordered a comprehensive investigation and a reinforcement of safety protocols across military aviation units.
Possible mid-air explosion
Sources said some passengers were women and children, though the NAF had not confirmed this by last night. It was also gathered that the military suspected a mid-air explosion, given the scattered wreckage recovered by first responders. This has not been officially confirmed.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said air traffic controllers told him the aircraft disappeared from radar at 9:13am and could not be raised by radio. He said the wreckage was later found near the Naval Base. He added that regulation of military aircraft falls outside the authority of his ministry and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Conflicting eyewitness accounts
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said he learned of the crash at about 10:30am from the Ilaje council chairman. He said residents heard a sound like an air tremor and felt the ground shake, and some saw the plane nosedive into the swamp. He said there was no smoke or fire.
Council Chairman Maurice Oripelaye gave a different account, saying the aircraft was engulfed in flames and badly burnt, and that a burnt military uniform was found in the wreckage.
The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, said the plane fell across a river into a waterlogged, bushy area. He believed the water prevented a major fire, but said the impact smashed the aircraft and a substantial part went into the water. “Our first gratitude is to Almighty God that it did not crash inside the town,” he said.
Difficult rescue
Navy personnel were the first to respond. They initially kept their distance for fear of an explosion, then moved closer when they saw no fire. Local emergency officials and operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) later joined them.
The governor said no survivor had been found. Identity cards and military uniforms recovered from the wreckage confirmed the aircraft was a military one. He ordered the State Emergency Management Agency, the Ministry of Health and security agencies to mobilise, and had the site cordoned off.
A source said the river was shallow but swampy, which made locating victims difficult. As of 9pm, rescuers, including operatives from the Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda, remained at the scene. They were also working to recover critical aircraft parts that could help investigators determine the cause.
The NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said search-and-rescue operations were continuing in coordination with relevant agencies. The names of the dead may be released today after families are notified.
NSIB, NCAA offer help
The Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said that under the NSIB Establishment Act 2022 and international practice, military accidents are investigated by the military. The Bureau, he said, is ready to assist if formally asked, including by deploying investigators and analysing flight recorder data at its Flight Safety Laboratory. NCAA Director-General Captain Chris Najomo said the Authority was monitoring developments and ready to provide technical expertise.
Calls for calm and transparency
Governor Aiyedatiwa and the Ondo State Police Command, through spokesman Jimoh Abayomi, urged residents to stay calm, avoid spreading unverified information and rely on official sources.
Senate Committee on Army Chairman Abdulaziz Yar’Adua called it a “sad day for the Nigerian military” and pledged support for improving the safety, welfare and effectiveness of the armed forces.
Presidential candidates Peter Obi and Omoyele Sowore also expressed condolences. Obi praised the personnel as courageous men and women who devoted their lives to defending the country. Sowore called for a thorough, transparent investigation that would also examine how quickly help arrived, what equipment responders had, the obstacles they faced, and whether a better-prepared system could have saved lives.
Comments