President Bola Tinubu has declared a three‑day period of national mourning after a military aircraft crashed on Monday morning near Ondo State, killing all 32 people on board.
The ATR‑42, a cargo‑tuned military plane, was supposed to fly from Benin City to Lagos when it plunged into a swampy area close to the naval base at Igbokoda. Residents reported seeing smoke and debris, with clothes and shoes scattered at the crash site.
Air‑Force officials said the incident involved 25 passengers and seven crew, and that an immediate investigation has been ordered. Flags will be flown at half‑mast nationwide in tribute.
This tragedy follows past Nigerian aviation disasters, including a 2021 crash that killed army chief Lt‑Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and other senior officers, and another February incident that claimed seven lives in Abuja.
