Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has expressed profound grief over the fatal crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, describing the loss of 32 military personnel, crew members, and civilian passengers as an “irreparable blow” to the nation.
In an official condolence statement issued on Tuesday morning, October 6, 2026, Gen. Musa paid tribute to the fallen personnel, emphasizing that they died in the active service of their fatherland while conducting routine flight operational duties.
“This painful incident claimed the lives of brave officers and airmen who were engaged in routine flight missions while serving our nation with courage, unyielding devotion, and selfless patriotism,” Gen. Musa stated. “The loss of these valiant patriots is an irreparable blow not only to the military high command and their comrades-in-arms, but to the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Extending the Federal Government’s deep condolences to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the families of the victims, the Defence Minister affirmed that the nation stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the bereaved during this period of national tragedy.
Addressing operational safety concerns across the military aviation sector, Gen. Musa confirmed that he has directed the Air Force High Command to institute an immediate and comprehensive investigation to determine the technical and environmental causes of the crash.
The ill-fated aircraft, carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members en route from Benin City to Lagos, went down in a dense swamp near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area, during adverse weather conditions on Monday morning, with search and rescue teams confirming zero survivors.
