NAF Plane Crash: Grieving Father Alleges Foul Play

BY TARKAA DAVID AND DAMIOLA ORGIBEMISUYI

A grieving father of one of the 25 victims of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday has alleged foul play in the circumstances leading to his daughter’s death.

The father, identified on social media as Odion Jackson Ani, claimed that 32 lives had been sacrificed for the sake of one person, although he did not explain the basis of his allegation.

The Nigerian Air Force had earlier confirmed that an ATR-42 aircraft, designated NAF 931, crashed while on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos. The service subsequently released the names of the five crew members and 20 passengers on board.

Checks by LEADERSHIP Friday against the official list of victims showed that Ani was the father of one of the deceased, Sergeant Ani AE.

In a social media post, he wrote: “JUST FOR ONE PERSON’S SAKE, THEY WASTED 32 PEOPLE, INCLUDING MY PRECIOUS DAUGHTER.”

Ani’s claim of 32 deaths contradicts the official figure of 25. Also, he did not clarify what he was referring to.

Meanwhile, sources familiar with the incident alleged that the aircraft suffered the failure of both engines mid-flight, resulting in the crash.

One source claimed that the aircraft might have been cleared to fly without adequate checks following maintenance in Benin. The source further alleged that the officer responsible for the aircraft’s inspection failed to exercise due diligence.

However, the allegations have yet to be independently verified, and the Nigerian Air Force has cautioned against speculation, insisting that the cause of the crash can only be established after a thorough investigation.

CAS Assures Families Of Thorough Investigation

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, on Thursday led senior Nigerian Air Force officials to the crash site in Igbokoda to assess ongoing search, recovery and investigative operations.

During the visit, Aneke expressed condolences to the families of the deceased on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Armed Forces and the Nigerian Air Force, describing the incident as a significant loss to the nation.

He reaffirmed the service’s commitment to a thorough, professional and impartial investigation, assuring the families that all relevant evidence would be secured, documented, preserved and examined in accordance with established procedures.

The Air Chief urged the public to refrain from speculating about the cause of the accident, stressing that it would be premature to draw conclusions before the investigation was completed.

He said the investigation team would comprise military and civilian aviation safety experts, representatives of relevant safety investigation and emergency management agencies, retired senior officers and experienced Air Force personnel.

“I had informed my Superintendent of Safety and Evaluation to come up with a high-level delegation comprising both military and civilian safety experts, NTSB, Accident and Emergency Management Board, retired senior officers and experienced Air Force officers, to sit down and get to the bottom of what happened,” he said.

“This is not the time to start speculating, and I plead with you, the general public. We’ve lost people who are fighting for the nation. The best we can do for them is to be a little bit patient and let those who are the specialists get to the bottom of what has happened.”

Aneke said he personally knew the crew members, describing them as highly trained, professional and dedicated officers who had made significant sacrifices in the service of the country.

“I basically knew everyone on that flight. I’ve flown on this aeroplane. My family has flown on this aeroplane. I know each of the crew personally. Highly trained, professional and intelligent officers. The best we can do is to honour the sacrifice they have put on board this aeroplane,” he said.

He assured the victims’ families that the Air Force would provide the necessary support, adding that aviation safety remained a priority for the service.

“We in the Air Force, we leave no stone unturned. When it comes to safety, everything is ensured,” he said.

Recovery, Evidence Preservation Ongoing

Providing an operational update, the Head of the Investigation and Recovery Team, Air Vice Marshal EOE Ebiowe, said recovery efforts were progressing in coordination with relevant aviation, security and emergency-response agencies.

He confirmed that the crash site remained secured, while recovered items and other relevant evidence were being documented and preserved to support the investigation.

Ebiowe reiterated that no conclusion could be reached on the cause of the crash until the investigation was completed.

Aneke commended the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ondo State Government, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps, Hi-Tech Construction Company, local authorities, community leaders and volunteers for their contributions to the recovery operation.

He also acknowledged the support of Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and residents of Igbokoda, noting that local residents were among the first responders after the crash.

The Air Chief thanked President Tinubu for his guidance and leadership during the period, expressing appreciation to government agencies, security and emergency-response organisations, host communities and members of the public for their cooperation.

He assured Nigerians that the NAF remained committed to completing the recovery operation, preserving evidence, conducting a comprehensive investigation and supporting the families of those who died in the crash.