President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a three-day national mourning following the death of an Air Force personnel in a military plane crash.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. The incident, which claimed the lives of the aircraft personnel, occurred on October 5, 2026.
According to the statement, the accident occurred near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State. The aircraft, carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed.
In the statement, Tinubu expressed sadness over the incident and directed that flags should be flown at half-mast throughout the country as a mark of respect to the officers.
“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.
“The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences,” the statement partly reads.
The President commended the efforts of the military and other emergency personnel involved in responding to the incident
“I commend the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate search and rescue operation following the accident,” Tinubu said in the statement.
The three-day mourning period will serve as a time for the nation to pay tribute to the fallen personnel, while the government is expected to release further information as investigations into the cause of the plane crash continue.