Vice President Kashim Shettima declared on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, that the nation owes an enduring debt of gratitude to the personnel who lost their lives in Monday’s tragic Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash near Igbokoda, Ondo State.
​Speaking in Abuja following official briefings on the incident, the Vice President expressed profound sadness over the tragedy, assuring the bereaved families that the Federal Government and the Nigerian people will stand by them long after the period of national mourning ends.
​”We cannot ask the bereaved to be strong today. Grief does not obey instructions,” Vice President Shettima stated. “We can only assure them that Nigeria remembers, Nigeria mourns with them, and Nigeria will stand beside them beyond these days of mourning. Your fallen colleagues have paid the supreme price. A grateful nation honours their courage, their service, and the families who shared them with Nigeria.”
​The tragedy occurred on Monday morning, October 5, 2026, when a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft (tail number NGR 931) lost radio contact at approximately 09:13 AM while en route from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos State.
​Confirming the incident, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo announced that the aircraft went down near the Naval Base in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State. A total of 32 personnel were on board—25 passengers and 7 crew members, all of whom perished in the crash.
​The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, immediately ordered a full-scale search and rescue operation, which quickly transitioned to crash site recovery and investigation protocols managed by military and aviation authorities.
​The Vice President’s remarks align with measures enacted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who declared a three-day period of national mourning and directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country. The President also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the technical and operational circumstances leading to the fatal crash.
​Extending condolences to the entire Nigerian military, Vice President Shettima acknowledged the deeply personal impact of the loss on NAF personnel. He prayed for the repose of the souls of the fallen personnel and offered words of strength to the military community.
​Local emergency responders, in coordination with Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and military authorities at the Igbokoda Naval Base, continue to support recovery operations at the site while full investigation reports are awaited.
