NAF Releases Names of 25 Victims of Ondo Crash

 

Crew
Squadron Leader MI Aburime — Flight Captain
Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje — Co-pilot
Flight Lieutenant IS Bako — Co-pilot
Warrant Officer Abubakar A — Aircraft Technician
Corporal Uguru HC — Aircraft Technician

Passengers
Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus
Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye
Flying Officer IM Adeshina
Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F
Master Warrant Officer Matini BA
Warrant Officer Nuhu FS
Flight Sergeant James RB
Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI
Sergeant Ani AE
Sergeant Izibenikien SI
Sergeant Alafuka C
Sergeant Mbadugha AN
Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC
Lance Corporal Eledan GE
Mrs Ezeh Nneka
Godstmine Tarabina
Joy Micheal
Sunday Micheal
Ukeme David
Gideon Omotola

The Nigerian Air Force has released the names of 25 people who died when an NAF ATR-42 aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday.

The Air Force said the victims comprised five crew members and 20 passengers. The aircraft, identified as NAF 931, was on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when the accident occurred.

The aircraft disappeared from radar before it was subsequently located near the Naval Base in Igbokoda. The crash site was in a swampy area, with parts of the aircraft and other items recovered as emergency personnel and security agencies worked to account for everyone on board.

The five crew members identified by the NAF were Squadron Leader MI Aburime, the flight captain; Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje, co-pilot; Flight Lieutenant IS Bako, co-pilot; Warrant Officer Abubakar A, aircraft technician; and Corporal Uguru HC, aircraft technician.

Among the passengers were Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus, Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye, Flying Officer IM Adeshina, Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F, Master Warrant Officer Matini BA, Warrant Officer Nuhu FS, Flight Sergeant James RB and Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI. The list also included Mrs Ezeh Nneka and several other military personnel and civilians.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, expressed profound condolences to the families, colleagues and loved ones of the victims, describing the incident as a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash and declared three days of national mourning for the victims. He also directed that national flags be flown at half-mast throughout the country.

The Defence Headquarters said the investigation would establish the cause of the crash, while search and recovery operations continued in collaboration with other security and emergency agencies. Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation and rely only on verified information as the investigation progresses.