Abuja: A Nigerian military aircraft carrying 32 people crashed in the southwestern state of Ondo on Monday morning, prompting an immediate and frantic search and rescue operation. The ill-fated aircraft, identified by the Nigerian Air Force as an ATR-42, went down in the riverside town of Igbokoda, sparking fears of significant casualties.
According to official statements, the flight was on a “routine mission” travelling from Benin City in southern Nigeria to the country’s economic hub, Lagos. Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, confirmed that the aircraft lost radar contact at approximately 9:00 AM local time before plummeting near a naval base in Ondo state.
“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and seven crew members on board,” Aviation Minister Keyamo stated, adding that the wreckage had been located and civil aviation authorities were fully cooperating with the military in the ongoing recovery efforts.
Air Force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame assured the public that “search and rescue operations, in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies, are currently ongoing.” Videos circulating on social media depicted a grim scene as local rescuers scoured the nearby river on boats.
Eyewitness accounts from the crash site painted a horrifying picture of the tragedy. Locals reported that the aircraft crashed near a water body, with parts of the shattered fuselage sinking. Akinbulejo Pius, a witness at the scene, told the media, “We heard something like a thunder strike. The plane cleared some trees. We found some body parts, some clothes, and shoes.”
The Nigerian military frequently utilises the twin-turboprop ATR-42 aircraft for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, as well as for transporting essential supplies and personnel. While the exact cause of the crash remains unverified, military officials are expected to constitute a Board of Inquiry to determine the circumstances leading to the disaster.
Authorities have yet to release an official death toll, but the presence of debris and body parts at the crash site indicates a high likelihood of fatalities. The nation currently waits with bated breath as emergency response teams continue to navigate the difficult riverside terrain to recover the victims.