- Earlier 32 Death Toll Was Preliminary Figure as NAF Confirms 25 Aboard
By Princely Onyenwe | News Desk
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed side-scan sonar equipment in the search for the wreckage of its ATR-42 aircraft that crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State, as the identities of all 25 people confirmed dead in the tragedy have been released.
The latest development marks an escalation of the military’s recovery operation, with sonar technology being used to survey the swampy and underwater areas where the aircraft is believed to have gone down.
The aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it went missing before crashing in the area opposite the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said search-and-rescue operations were activated immediately after the incident in coordination with relevant authorities, but no survivor was found.
The Air Force confirmed that 25 people were on board the aircraft, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, all of whom died in the crash. The figure supersedes the earlier preliminary report that 32 people were aboard.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and ordered a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The five crew members identified by NAF are 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.
The 20 passengers were identified as Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus, Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye, Flying Officer IM Adeshina, Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F, Master Warrant Officer Matini BA, Warrant Officer Nuhu FS, Flight Sergeant James RB, Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI, Sergeant Ani AE, Sergeant Izibenikien SI, Sergeant Alafuka C, Sergeant Mbadugha AN, Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC, Lance Corporal Eledan GE, Mrs Ezeh Nneka, Godstmine Tarabina, Joy Micheal, Sunday Micheal, Ukeme David and Gideon Omotola.
NAF urged members of the public to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified information, while appealing to Nigerians to respect the privacy of the victims’ families.
The Air Force also announced that a condolence register had been opened at its headquarters in Abuja for government officials, diplomats, security chiefs and other well-wishers to pay their respects.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier declared three days of national mourning over the crash and directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country.
Recovery operations and investigations are continuing as authorities work to locate the aircraft, possibly recover the victims and establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
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