Thirty two persons comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members are feared dead as an aircraft belonging to the Nigeria Air Force crashed at the riverine community of Igbokoda, headquarters of the Ilaje Local Government Area of in Ondo State, on Monday, October 5.
Rescue efforts by men of the naval base in the area as well as other agencies were ongoing at the crash site in the swampy area.
Giving an update on the disaster, Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, said in a post on his X handle that the military aircraft heading to Lagos from Benin City, Edo State, disappeared from the radar and later crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
He added that the wreckage had been located and search and rescue operations ongoing.
He wrote: “I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, enroute Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive.
“Subsequent information however confirmed that the military aircraft has crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing.
“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and seven crew members on board.
“While the control and regulation of military aircraft are completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation, and Civil Aviation Authority, I have just spoken to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke and pledged our total cooperation and assistance in the search and rescue efforts ongoing.
“Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently.”
