President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a three-day national mourning period for Nigerian Air Force personnel who died in an aircraft crash in Ondo State.
The President also directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the fallen officers.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on October 5, 2026, Tinubu expressed profound sadness over the crash of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft.
The aircraft, which was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, crashed near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State while on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.
According to the statement, the President described the incident as “a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation,” noting that Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria.
He said their sacrifice would never be forgotten.
Tinubu disclosed that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, had briefed him on the incident, adding that he had directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences.
The President also commended the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate search-and-rescue operation following the accident.
The statement added that the Air Force would release the names of the deceased officers after their families had been contacted.
