Ondo crash: Defence Minister orders full probe as Nigeria mourns 25 dead

HiThe Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has ordered a full investigation into the military aircraft crash that killed 25 people in Ondo State on Monday.

The Nigerian Air Force passenger aircraft was on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos when it went down at Igbokoda, Ondo State, shortly after 9:00 am. Both military personnel and civilians lost their lives in the accident.

In an official statement, General Musa described the loss as an irreparable blow to the military and the entire nation. He said the inquiry will uncover what went wrong and help tighten safety measures across all military aviation units.

“A comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate crash has been ordered to ascertain the cause and ensure all necessary operational safety protocols are reinforced across our military aviation units,” Musa said.

He offered his condolences to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the military high command, and the families of all victims on board.

Following the crash, President Tinubu declared three days of national mourning and directed that all national flags be flown at half-mast across the country.

“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation,” the President said through his spokesperson…Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten”, Bayo Onanuga.

The Nigerian Air Force has released the official list of the 25 passengers and crew on board as accident investigators begin work to determine what caused the plane to go down.