The Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NNGF) has expressed grief over the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, which claimed the lives of all those on board.
The forum’s chairman and Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, conveyed the condolences of northern governors to President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian Air Force, the Armed Forces and the families of the victims.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director-General of Press Affairs, Government House, Gombe, Ismaila Uba Misilli, Yahaya described the incident as a tragic reminder of the sacrifices routinely made by military personnel in the service and defence of the country.
He said the deceased personnel had paid the ultimate price in the line of duty and commended their courage and service to Nigeria.
Yahaya also commended the Federal Government’s response to the crash, including President Tinubu’s directive for a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident and the activation of search-and-rescue operations.
He further acknowledged Tinubu’s declaration of three days of national mourning and directive for the national flag to be flown at half-mast in honour of the victims.
The NAF has since clarified that 25 people — five crew members and 20 passengers — were aboard the ATR-42 aircraft when it crashed during a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos. The Air Force said there were no survivors and that a comprehensive investigation had been ordered to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Earlier reports from the Aviation Ministry and other government sources had put the number of people aboard at 32, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members. The NAF has not publicly explained the discrepancy between the initial and revised figures.
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