A military aircraft with 32 people on board — 25 passengers and seven crew members — has crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The incident occurred after the aircraft, identified by its tail number NGR 931, reportedly disappeared from radar while travelling from Benin to Lagos on Monday morning.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed the incident in a statement, saying Air Traffic Controllers had alerted authorities after losing contact with the aircraft.
According to Keyamo, the aircraft was en route to Lagos when it became unresponsive to radio communication at about 9:13am.
“All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,” the minister said.
He added that subsequent information confirmed that the military aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
The wreckage has reportedly been located, while search and rescue operations are currently ongoing.
Preliminary information indicates that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard the aircraft when it crashed. The identities and condition of those on board had not been officially disclosed at the time of the announcement.
Keyamo stressed that military aviation operations fall outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
He, however, said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s full cooperation and assistance in the ongoing search and rescue operation.
“Whilst the control and regulation of military aircraft are completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and Civil Aviation Authority, I have just spoken to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged our total cooperation and assistance in the search and rescue efforts ongoing,” Keyamo said.
The minister said further details would be released as more information becomes available.
The circumstances surrounding the crash, including the condition of those on board and the cause of the incident, remain unclear as rescue efforts continue.