The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has officially released the names of the 25 individuals who lost their lives in the tragic crash of a NAF 931 aircraft on Monday. The aircraft, an ATR 42, went down in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State while conducting a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NAF confirmed that there were no survivors among those on board. The military clarified that the manifest included five crew members and 20 passengers. This official count serves as a correction to earlier reports from government officials on Monday, which had initially estimated that 32 people were on the flight.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the tragedy as a deeply painful moment for both the service and the nation. In his statement, he extended heartfelt sympathies to the families, colleagues, and loved ones of the deceased, pledging that the Air Force would provide comprehensive support to the bereaved families during this difficult period.
“The Chief of Air Staff has directed a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident,” said Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Director of Public Relations and Information.
The crew members who perished in the line of duty were identified as Squadron Leader MI Aburime (Flight Captain), Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje (Co-pilot), Flight Lieutenant IS Bako (Co-pilot), Warrant Officer Abubakar A (Aircraft Technician), and Corporal Uguru HC (Aircraft Technician).
Among the 20 passengers lost in the accident were several military officers and six civilians: Mrs. Ezeh Nneka, Godstmine Tarabina, Joy Micheal, Sunday Micheal, Ukeme David, and Gideon Omotola.
President Bola Tinubu joined the nation in mourning the victims, having ordered a thorough investigation into the incident shortly after reports of the crash emerged on Monday.
In light of the investigation, the Air Force has urged the public to refrain from speculating or circulating unverified information regarding the cause of the crash. To facilitate a period of national mourning, the NAF has opened a condolence register at its headquarters in Abuja. This register is available for senior government officials, diplomatic corps members, heads of security agencies, and the public to pay their respects to those who lost their lives.
Search-and-rescue teams were deployed immediately following the crash on Monday, but efforts were ultimately unsuccessful in locating survivors. As the investigation gets underway, the Air Force has promised to provide timely and transparent updates to the public while maintaining the dignity and privacy of the affected families.
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