Squadron Leader Ahamefule Aham Man-Ugwueje, a Nigerian Air Force pilot who died in Monday’s aircraft crash in Ondo State, had only been married for about two weeks before the tragedy.
Man-Ugwueje exchanged marital vows with Flight Lieutenant Damilola Adekunle at a ceremony held in Abuja on September 19, 2026.
Details of the wedding were obtained from the couple’s invitation and social media posts shared by some of the vendors who handled the event.
The pilot was among those aboard the NAF ATR-42 aircraft, marked NAF 931, which crashed around Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area while travelling from Benin to Lagos on a routine mission.
The Nigerian Air Force subsequently confirmed that everyone on board died. The victims comprised 20 passengers and five crew members.
Images and videos from the pilot’s wedding showed him alongside his wife during the ceremony and celebration in Abuja.
A videographer who covered the event, Beejay Creates, shared footage from the ceremony with the caption, “Love in every word.”
The vendor’s post identified the newlyweds as “BRIDE DAMILOLA AND GROOM AHAMEFULE.”
According to the wedding invitation, the couple’s marriage ceremony took place at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, The Masters Place, in Utako, Abuja, while the reception was held later at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre in Asokoro.
The invitation also stated that Man-Ugwueje was the son of retired Group Captain Man-Ugwueje.
The NAF identified him as the co-pilot and listed him among the five crew members who perished in the crash.
Reacting to the incident, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the accident as “a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation” while extending his condolences to the victims’ families, colleagues and loved ones.
The Nigerian Air Force has commenced plans for a detailed investigation into the accident to establish what caused the aircraft to crash.
Meanwhile, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said earlier that rescue teams did not find any survivor at the crash site despite the involvement of security personnel, emergency workers and local residents.