PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning for Nigerian Air Force personnel who died in the crash of an ATR-42 military aircraft in Ondo State.
Tinubu also directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the deceased officers.
The president’s directive followed Monday’s crash of the military aircraft near a naval base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The aircraft, which had 25 passengers and seven crew members on board, was on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when it crashed.
Earlier, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State said no survivor was found at the crash site.
Aiyedatiwa disclosed this on Monday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, saying residents, emergency responders and security personnel searched the site but could not find anyone alive.
“No survivors yet from the information I’ve gotten from the people in there” the governor said.
He said the search teams found wreckage from the aircraft, including parts of the wings, identification cards and military uniforms.
Aiyedatiwa said residents had heard a sound resembling an air tremor before some people saw the aircraft nose-dive into swamp.
He added that the Nigerian Navy initially stayed back to ensure there was no explosion or fire before moving towards the crash site to search for possible survivors.
The governor described the incident as particularly painful because it occurred in Ondo State and in Ilaje Local Government Area, his local government.
The ICIR reports that the aircraft was initially reported missing after air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13 a.m.
Aiyedatiwa said its wreckage was later located near the naval base in Igbokoda.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard the aircraft.
Tinubu orders probe
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday, Tinubu expressed sadness over the crash and directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately investigate its cause.
“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 president said.
Tinubu said the investigation was necessary to prevent future occurrences and commended the Nigerian Air Force for activating a search-and-rescue operation after the accident.
He also commended first responders and the Ondo State Government for their response at the crash site.
The Presidency said the Nigerian Air Force would release the names of the officers who died after their families had been contacted.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M