• Army, Navy condole with Air Force over loss of personnel
• NAF launches investigation, urges public to shun speculation
• Senate suspends security summit over national mourning
• Swamp buggies deployed as difficult terrain hampers recovery
• CAN, ADC demand probe, maintenance funding audit
• Aiyedatiwa pledges state support for search, recovery efforts

The United States and Türkiye have joined Nigeria in mourning the 25 victims of Monday’s Nigerian Air Force (NAF) plane crash in Ondo, as the Air Force released their names and confirmed that no survivors were found.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on Monday declared a three-day national mourning for the victims and directed that flags be flown at half-mast throughout the country as a mark of respect to the departed.

The United States Mission in Nigeria, the Republic of Türkiye and the Displaced Children Foundation Canada expressed condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased.

The U.S. Mission conveyed its condolences in a post shared on its official X account yesterday, joining the growing tributes to the victims of the crash.

“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria sends our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of those lost in yesterday’s Nigerian Air Force crash,” the mission said.

It added that the condolences were in line with the longstanding security relationship between Nigeria and the United States.

“We stand with the people of Nigeria and remain committed to our strong security partnership,” the mission said.

Similarly, the Republic of Türkiye expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives in the military aircraft crash.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued yesterday by the Turkish Embassy in Abuja, extended condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Nigeria.

In the statement titled “Regarding the Military Aircraft Crash in Nigeria,” the ministry said: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives resulting from the crash of a military aircraft in Ondo State of Nigeria. We extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident, and to the people of Nigeria.”

The ministry conveyed Türkiye’s sympathy to the affected families and the Nigerian people following the incident.

The Displaced Children Foundation Canada expressed its condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the victims.

In a statement issued in Calgary, Alberta, yesterday, the Canadian charitable organisation said it was extending its “deepest, most heartfelt condolences” to the families, friends and colleagues of the 25 passengers and crew members who lost their lives in the NAF ATR-42 aircraft crash.

The foundation, which focuses on humanitarian efforts and supporting vulnerable children and families affected by conflict in Nigeria, said the tragedy was felt deeply across its global community.

It expressed solidarity with theNigerian Air Force leadership, the armed forces and the country during the three-day period of national mourning.

“Our thoughts and fervent prayers are with the grieving families who are facing unimaginable pain today,” the founders of the foundation, Joseph and Karen Ogezi, said.

“We pray that they find comfort, strength, and fortitude in the days ahead, and we offer our highest assurances of our continued prayers and support.”

The Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy also commiserated with the Nigerian Air Force and families of the victims.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, in a condolence message on behalf of officers, soldiers and civilian staff of the Nigerian Army, expressed solidarity with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and the entire Nigerian Air Force family.

Shaibu said the Army shared in the grief of the Air Force following the tragic loss of its personnel in the accident.

The COAS prayed for strength and comfort for the families of the deceased, adding that the Nigerian Army stood in solidarity with the NAF at this difficult moment.

Also, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, on behalf of officers, ratings and civilian staff of the Nigerian Navy, commiserated with Aneke and the entire NAF family.

The Naval Chief expressed condolences over the loss of the personnel and prayed for strength for the bereaved families.

The Navy said it stood in solidarity with the Nigerian Air Force and prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the departed servicemen.

No survivors as NAF releases names of 25 victims
THE Nigerian Air Force has released the names of 25 personnel and passengers who died in the crash.

The NAF also confirmed that no survivors have been found following the accident, which occurred while the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.

NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, in a statement yesterday said the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, expressed condolences to the families, loved ones and colleagues of the victims.

He said: “NAF 931 had 25 persons on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. Search-and-rescue procedures were immediately activated, with response efforts conducted in coordination with relevant authorities to locate and account for all persons on board. No survivors have been found.”

The five crew members were Squadron Leader MI Aburime, the flight captain; Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje, co-pilot; Flight Lieutenant I.S. Bako, co-pilot; Warrant Officer Abubakar A, aircraft technician; and Corporal Uguru H.C., aircraft technician.

The passengers were Flight Lieutenant T.L. Lazarus, Flight Lieutenant M. Akinloye, Flying Officer I.M. Adeshina, Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F., Master Warrant Officer Matini B.A., Warrant Officer Nuhu F.S., Flight Sergeant James R.B., Flight Sergeant Mohammed A.I., Sergeant Ani A.E. and Sergeant Izibenikien S.I.

Others were Sergeant Alafuka C., Sergeant Mbadugha A.N., Lance Corporal Ugwuba F.C., Lance Corporal Eledan G.E., Mrs Ezeh Nneka, Godstmine Tarabina, Joy Micheal, Sunday Micheal, Ukeme David and Gideon Omotola.

Aneke described the accident as a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation, assuring the bereaved families of the Service’s full support.

The Chief of the Air Staff has also directed a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.

The NAF said it would provide timely and verified updates as the investigation progresses, while urging the public to refrain from speculation and the circulation of unverified information.

It also appealed to members of the public to respect the privacy and dignity of the affected families.

A condolence register has been opened at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force in Abuja for senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, heads of security agencies and other well-wishers wishing to pay their respects and convey messages of sympathy to the families of the deceased and the Nigerian Air Force.

Senate postpones national security summit
THE Senate has postponed its planned National Security Summit indefinitely.
The two-day summit, scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2026, was suspended in honour of the fallen military personnel.

The Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Opeyemi Bamidele, announced the postponement in a statement yesterday.

The summit was designed to examine Nigeria’s worsening security challenges and develop practical measures to protect lives and property across the country.

Preparations for the summit had been concluded following the completion of zonal public hearings ahead of the national gathering.

However, the fatal crash and the subsequent declaration of national mourning prompted the Senate to suspend the event until further notice.

The Senate expressed condolences to Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Air Force, and the families of the deceased personnel.

Bamidele described the fallen officers and crew members as gallant personnel who paid the supreme price in active service to the nation.

The Senate said a new date for the summit would be announced in due course and appealed to stakeholders to bear with the legislature during the period of national mourning.

Swamp buggies deployed to recover crashed NAF aircraft
TWO amphibious excavators, commonly known as swamp buggies, have been deployed to the crash site of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft that went down in the creeks of Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Council Area of Ondo State.

The heavy-duty equipment arrived at the site alongside a team of technical personnel equipped with specialised detection devices to locate the submerged wreckage and support the recovery operation.

The deployment came more than 24 hours after the aircraft crashed into the creeks, with the remains of the victims yet to be recovered as of 5:00 p.m. yesterday.

Sources at the scene said the wreckage was located in a largely inaccessible area, with murky waters and thick vegetation compounding the challenges facing emergency responders.

When The Guardian visited the Forward Operating Base (FOB), journalists were barred from accessing the crash site, located about 500 metres east of the Naval Base and cordoned off by security personnel.

Some journalists were also arrested by FOB operatives for allegedly accessing the crash site without approval.

The deployment of the swamp buggies raised hopes among residents of the coastal community that the operation would be strengthened to recover the victims’ remains and retrieve the aircraft from the difficult terrain.

The swampy nature of the crash site, about 500 metres from the FOB, had made access and recovery particularly difficult, with initial attempts using small boats proving inadequate.

CAN, ADC demand transparent probe, audit of NAF aircraft maintenance
THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, with the opposition party demanding scrutiny of defence budget implementation and aircraft maintenance.

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, condoled with the families of the personnel killed in the crash and urged the government to ensure that the findings of the investigation and its safety recommendations receive the necessary attention.

Okoh described the incident as a painful reminder of the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces and the burden borne by their families.

He called for stronger aviation safety measures, including improved aircraft maintenance, operational procedures and emergency response systems.

“Every life lost is precious. We must therefore continue to strengthen aviation safety, aircraft maintenance, operational procedures and emergency response systems, particularly in the interest of personnel who undertake difficult assignments on behalf of the nation,” he said.

The CAN president urged Nigerians to keep the bereaved families and the NAF in their prayers, extending the association’s condolences to the families of the deceased personnel, the NAF, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the people and government of Ondo State.

“The men and women of our Armed Forces make enormous sacrifices in the service of our nation. Their families also bear the weight of those sacrifices. At this difficult moment, our thoughts and prayers are particularly with the bereaved families and their colleagues in the Nigerian Air Force,” Okoh said.

He welcomed the government’s decision to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, urging that the exercise be conducted professionally and transparently.

“CAN welcomes the decision to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. We urge that the investigation be thorough, professional and transparent, and that its findings and safety recommendations receive the necessary attention,” he added.

Similarly, the ADC expressed sadness over the crash and questioned the implementation of defence budgets for the regular maintenance of military aircraft.

In a statement released in Abuja yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, commiserated with the families of the victims and described the incident as “tragic and unfortunate”.

The ADC said the crash should prompt scrutiny of defence budget implementation and the maintenance of military equipment, while cautioning against prejudging the ongoing investigation into the cause of the accident.

“While we do not intend to prejudice ongoing investigations into the cause of this tragic crash, we believe that this sad moment also provides an opportunity to raise, yet again, questions about the non-implementation of the defence budget and the perennial neglect of military equipment,” the party said.

Citing official figures, the opposition party claimed that, by December 2025, the Federal Government had released N4.5 billion, representing about 13.98 per cent of the N34.71 billion budgeted for the maintenance of NAF aircraft.

It contrasted this with the N20.74 billion allocated for the maintenance of the Presidential Air Fleet, of which N20.27 billion had reportedly been released during the same period, representing 97.76 per cent.

The ADC said the figures raised questions about the prioritisation of aircraft maintenance funding.

“Put simply, while the fleet that serves a handful of people in power got almost every kobo it asked for, the fleet that serves and protects 200 million Nigerians was left with crumbs,” the party said.

The party added: “The safety of the President matters. But what also matters is the safety of the pilots and airmen who put their lives on the line in defence of the country. Patriotism does not replace spare parts, and condolence messages do not take the place of accountability.”

The ADC called for the crash investigation to examine the maintenance of defence equipment, particularly the NAF fleet, and demanded an audit of maintenance expenditure and budgetary releases as part of the exercise.

Aiyedatiwa pledges support for recovery operation
ONDO State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has pledged the full support of the state government to agencies involved in the search and recovery operation following the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash.

Aiyedatiwa made the commitment when the Director of Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Air Commodore Bature, briefed him at the Government House in Akure.

The governor said he directed relevant state authorities to mobilise immediately after receiving news of the crash while attending an official engagement in Abuja.