Senate Postpones Security Summit After NAF Aircraft Crash

The Senate has indefinitely postponed its planned National Security Summit due to the fatal crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, which occurred on Monday and resulted in the deaths of 25 officers and seven crew members. The summit was originally scheduled for October 12 and 13 to address Nigeria's security challenges.

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, announced the postponement in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. This decision follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's declaration of three days of national mourning for the deceased military personnel, during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast.

Bamidele expressed condolences to the President, the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the NAF, and the families of the victims, describing them as gallant personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country. A new date for the summit will be announced later.