How NAF 931 Aircraft Crashed In Ondo – Residents

|  Newly-wed pilot feared dead among 32 on board  |  Tinubu mourns, orders investigation

By Jonathan Nda-Isaiah, Tarkaa David, Damilola Origbemisuyi

Residents of Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, have recounted how a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft crashed into a swamp in the community on Monday, saying they saw aircraft parts, clothes and suspected human remains around the crash site.

The residents said the aircraft went down in a waterlogged area shortly after 10 am, prompting frantic efforts to reach the site and rescue those on board.

However, they said the difficult terrain and the swamp’s depth made it impossible to reach the aircraft, much of which had reportedly sunk into the water.

One of the residents, Oluboyo Olusola, who said he visited the crash site, claimed he saw aircraft parts, clothes and what appeared to be human remains scattered around the area.

“After the incident, I was here personally. I saw many things. I saw parts of the aircraft, bodies scattered, and clothes. Other bodies are inside water,” Olusola said.

Another resident, Akinte Toluwalase, said residents immediately rushed to the scene but were unable to rescue anyone because the aircraft had sunk into the swamp.

“When that incident happened, the aircraft sank. As soon as it happened, there was nothing we could do. We just ran there. When we got there, we met some parts, including human beings’ parts. We did a video. There is nothing we can do; we can’t rescue anybody because that plane has already entered the swamp,” he said.

Toluwalase said naval officers joined residents about 30 minutes after the crash to reach the site, but the difficult terrain hampered the operation.

Another resident, Ayedugbe Abel, said it was raining in the community when residents heard a loud sound and realised that an aircraft had gone down.

“This morning, it was raining here around 10 am, and we just heard a sudden sound of a jet. We don’t know exactly whether it’s a plane, a jet, or a helicopter. We know that something dropped there,” he said.

Abel said residents, including men and women, attempted to reach the location by canoe, while some reportedly swam towards it.

“Our people here tried a lot, even women and men. They took a canoe to reach that place to rescue them. We tried our best, but unfortunately, we were unable to locate the exact location. The police have come; a naval agent has come. We have taken an urgent step to rescue them. Some people even swim to the place,” he said.

The aircraft, with tail number NAF 931, crashed in a swampy area opposite the Naval Base in Igbokoda while on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.

The Nigerian Air Force subsequently activated search-and-rescue operations, with military personnel and other emergency response agencies deployed to the area.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Ilaje Local Government chairman, Taiwo Sadare, who is also a resident of Igbokoda, said the difficult terrain had made access to the crash site challenging.

Sadare said the local government chairman, naval personnel and officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were moving to the scene as rescue efforts continued.

He also said a helicopter had been deployed from Abuja to monitor the situation and assist in locating the crash site.

Sadare said he was informed that poor weather conditions may have contributed to the incident, but the claim had not been independently established.

“They said it was poor weather conditions that affected the pilot. He was trying to manoeuvre, but the poor weather conditions affected the pilot,” he said.

According to Sadare, he was also informed that the aircraft caught fire before crashing into the swampy area near the water behind the Naval Base.

The traditional ruler of Igbokoda, Afolabi Odidiomo, said the community was relieved that the aircraft did not crash within the town, which he feared could have resulted in more casualties.

“I was praying, and I was worried that it must not be a plane because the number of casualties would be just too high,” the monarch said.

“Our first thanks to Almighty is that it didn’t fall inside town.”

Families Await News

Meanwhile, families of those aboard the aircraft were left waiting anxiously for information as search-and-rescue operations continued.

The identities of the passengers and crew had not been officially released as of press time, while authorities were yet to confirm the casualty figure.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board.

In a statement confirming the crash, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.

“The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.

“Search and Rescue operations, in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies, are currently ongoing,” he said.

Military sources said the difficult terrain around the crash site was complicating efforts by rescue personnel to reach the aircraft.

A military source also said the incident was the first of its kind involving the Nigerian Air Force’s ATR fleet.

The NAF urged members of the public to rely on information from relevant authorities and avoid speculation or the circulation of unverified casualty figures.

Tinubu Orders Probe

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.

The President gave the directive following the crash of the ATR-42 aircraft near a naval base in Igbokoda on Monday morning.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.

Tinubu expressed sadness over the incident and extended his condolences to the families of those aboard the aircraft.

He also commiserated with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, as well as officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force.

“The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences,” the President said.

Tinubu described the incident as a painful moment for the Armed Forces and the nation, noting the risks routinely undertaken by military personnel in securing the country.

“Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” he said.

The President also commended the Nigerian Air Force for activating search-and-rescue operations following the crash and praised first responders and the Ondo State Government for their response.

Tinubu prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and asked God to grant their families and the Nigerian Air Force the strength to bear the loss.

He further assured the Nigerian Air Force of his administration’s continued support in carrying out its responsibilities.

The Ondo State Government also deployed relevant agencies to support the rescue operation, while Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa directed that the crash site be secured to allow emergency responders to operate without hindrance.

LEADERSHIP recalls that on January 2, 2026, a Nigerian Air Force unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) also crashed during a routine mission.