Nigerian Air Force Revises Crash Toll to 25, Including Civilians

The Nigerian Air Force has revised the number of people aboard an aircraft that crashed in southern Nigeria, saying 25 people were on board and that no survivors had been found.

The ATR-42 twin-engine turboprop went down on Monday in a swampy area near a naval base close to Igbokoda, in Ilaje, Ondo State. The aircraft was travelling from Benin city to Lagos on what the Air Force described as a routine mission.

Revised passenger and crew figures

Air Force spokesman Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said in a statement on Tuesday that the aircraft, identified as NAF 931, was carrying five crew members and 20 passengers.

“No survivors have been found,” Ejodame said.

The new figure differs from the Air Force’s initial report that 32 people were aboard. President Bola Tinubu had also said that all 32 people had been killed, describing the group as 25 passengers and seven crew members.

The victims included military personnel and civilians. The reported list contained six names without military rank prefixes, while Defence Headquarters spokesman Major General Samaila Uba said “some members of families” were aboard.

Search and investigation

A video circulating on social media showed a small crowd gathered near a river as rescuers searched the area by boat. The supplied reports did not state what caused the aircraft to crash or provide further details about the recovery operation.

President Tinubu and the military chiefs have ordered an investigation into the accident. Tinubu also declared three days of public mourning.

“This is a painful moment for our armed forces and for the entire nation,” the president said.