Tinubu Announces Mourning for Air Force Crash Victims

On October 6, President Bola Tinubu announced a three-day national mourning period for the Air Force personnel who tragically lost their lives in a military aircraft crash on October 2 in Ondo State. The crash involved a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, which was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos, carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members.

The aircraft went down near a naval base in the Igbokoda area. In a statement, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, conveyed the President's directive for national flags to be flown at half-mast across the country during the mourning period.

President Tinubu expressed his sorrow over the incident, describing it as a painful moment for both the Nigerian Armed Forces and the nation. He acknowledged the risks faced by military personnel in their duties, stating, “Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”.