Nigeria Declares National Mourning After Military Plane Crash Kills 32
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning after a military aircraft crashed in southern Ondo State, killing 32 people.
The ATR‑42 aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when it went down near a naval base on Monday morning. A resident described the site as a swamp with scattered clothes and shoes, and smoke rising from the wreckage.
President Tinubu offered his deepest condolences for the 25 passengers and seven crew members on board and ordered a full investigation into the cause. He ordered national flags to be flown at half‑mast across the country in respect for those who died.
In a statement, Tinubu said, “This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo reported that the aircraft with tail number NGR 931 had disappeared on its flight from Benin at 0913 hours, and search and rescue efforts are ongoing. He said attempts to contact the aircraft were unsuccessful before confirmation of the crash near Igbokoda, Ondo state.
The ATR‑42 can carry between 30 and 50 passengers. Tinubu has directed the Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Until now, the identities of those who died have not been released; officials say the names will be published after families are informed.
The Nigerian Air Force plays a key role in military operations, including countering armed groups and fighting insecurity in various parts of the country. This crash is one of the deadliest air disasters in Nigeria in recent years. In May 2021, Army Chief Lt‑Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and ten other officers died in a plane crash; in February of the same year, a military plane crashed short of a runway in Abuja, killing seven.
