32 On Board As Nigerian Military Aircraft Crashes Near Naval Base In Igbokoda, Ondo State — Aviation Minister Keyamo Confirms

There were 32 people on board a military aircraft that crashed in Ondo State on Monday, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed.

Keyamo disclosed this in a post on X, in his first official statement on the incident.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported the crash on Monday morning, with the Nigerian Air Force saying the aircraft was travelling on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.

According to the minister, preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board the aircraft with tail number NGR 931.

The aircraft, en route Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours, was reported missing after Air Traffic Controllers said all efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive.

“Subsequently information however confirmed that the military aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing,” Keyamo stated.

The minister added that while the control and regulation of military aircraft are completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and the Civil Aviation Authority, he has spoken to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged total cooperation and assistance in the search and rescue efforts.

Search and rescue operations are still ongoing, and the casualty figure from the crash is yet to be determined.

Further information on the incident is expected to be made available subsequently.