Tinubu Declares Three Days of Mourning After Military Plane Crash Kills 32
Bola Tinubu, President of Nigeria, has declared three days of national mourning after a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed in Ondo State, killing all 32 people on board. The ATR-42 aircraft, carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, crashed near a naval base in Igbokoda on Monday while on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos. President Tinubu directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country and ordered the Nigerian Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash. “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,” he said.
The crash has prompted search and recovery efforts at the site, where aircraft debris and personal belongings were found. The identities of the victims are expected to be released after their families have been notified. The tragedy is among Nigeria’s deadliest military aviation accidents in recent years, following previous crashes that claimed the lives of senior military officers and other personnel. President Tinubu expressed condolences to the families of the victims and the Nigerian Air Force, while directing that the investigation establish the cause of the accident and help prevent similar incidents in the future.
