A Nigerian military aircraft has crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State after air traffic controllers lost contact with it while it was flying from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said the aircraft, identified by tail number NAF 931, was on a routine mission when the accident occurred.
The aircraft disappeared from radar at about 9:13 a.m., prompting an immediate search and rescue operation involving the Air Force, relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the incident, saying all efforts to establish radio contact with the aircraft had initially failed before information emerged that it had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
“I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, en route Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,” Keyamo said.
He said the wreckage had subsequently been located and that search and rescue operations were underway.
The minister said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard the aircraft, putting the reported number of people on board at 32 at the time.
He noted that military aviation falls outside the regulatory jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, but said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, and offered the ministry’s assistance with the rescue operation.
The NAF also confirmed the crash, with its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, saying the aircraft was conducting a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.
Ejodame said search and rescue teams were working with relevant authorities and emergency agencies to respond to the incident.
The Ondo State Police Command also urged residents of Igbokoda and surrounding communities to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified information while details of the accident were still emerging.
The crash occurred in a swampy area around Igbokoda, in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Authorities have yet to establish the cause of the accident, with the immediate priority focused on locating and accounting for everyone on board.
The NAF said further information would be released as the search and rescue operation progressed.
