President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning for air force personnel who died in the crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft in Ondo state on Monday.
In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, on Monday, Tinubu also directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast throughout the country as a mark of respect for the personnel.
The NAF ATR-42 aircraft crashed near a naval base in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje LGA of Ondo state, while on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos.
The aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members when it crashed.
“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation,” Tinubu said in a condolence message to Sunday Aneke, chief of air staff, and officers, airmen and airwomen of the air force.
“Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Tinubu said he had been briefed by the chief of air staff and directed the air force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.
He said the investigation should help prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“I commend the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate search and rescue operation following the accident,” the president said.
The presidency said the NAF would release the names of the officers who died after their families had been contacted.
