President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning following the tragic crash of a Nigerian Air Force military aircraft in Ondo State on Monday.
Expressing profound grief over the fatal incident, President Tinubu described the loss as a deeply painful moment for both the Armed Forces and the entire nation, emphasizing that the immense sacrifice of the brave personnel who serve to secure the country will never be forgotten.
In honor of the fallen officers, the President has directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country throughout the three-day mourning period. The tragedy involved a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, which went down near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State while executing a routine operational mission from Benin to Lagos.
Following an official briefing by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, President Tinubu ordered an immediate, thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences.
While commending the Air Force for swiftly activating emergency search and rescue operations, the Presidency confirmed that the identities of the victims will be publicly released once their families have been formally notified.
