The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has mourned 32 Nigerian Air Force personnel involved in an aircraft crash near a naval base in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, carrying 25 officers and seven crew members, was on a routine operational mission from Benin to Lagos when the crash occurred on Monday.
Matawalle described the incident as a tragic loss to the Armed Forces of Nigeria, saying the deaths underscored the risks and sacrifices associated with military service.
The minister’s Personal Assistant on Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Matawalle said, “I received with profound sadness the news of the crash of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, which occurred today, Monday, 05 October 2026, with 25 officers and seven crew members on board.”
He added, “The loss of these gallant personnel in the course of active service to our fatherland is a profound tragedy and a painful reminder of the sacrifices routinely made by members of our Armed Forces in the service of the nation.”
The minister honoured the courage and dedication of the personnel, saying their commitment to duty would not be forgotten.
“At this difficult moment, our thoughts remain firmly with their families, colleagues, comrades and loved ones,” he said.
Matawalle extended his condolences to the bereaved families, the Nigerian Air Force and the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
He said, “On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, I join the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in extending our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Nigerian Air Force and the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria over this painful loss.”
The minister prayed for the souls of the deceased and strength for their families and colleagues to bear the loss.
He also reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces to protecting military personnel, maintaining the highest standards of operational safety and fulfilling their constitutional responsibility of defending the nation.