Sowore Questions Emergency Response After NAF Aircraft Crash

On October 5, 2026, a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed into a river near Igbokoda in Ondo State, carrying 25 passengers and 7 crew members, totaling 32 individuals on board. Activist and politician Omoyele Sowore expressed his sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the families of those affected.

In a statement on his X handle, Sowore raised urgent questions regarding the country's emergency response capabilities, highlighting the need for two separate investigations: one into the cause of the crash and another into the emergency response. He questioned the timeliness of the help that arrived, the equipment available, and the challenges faced by responders.

Sowore described the lack of adequate emergency preparedness as a significant failure that exacerbates the tragedy's impact. The aircraft lost radio contact at 09:13 hours while en route from Benin to Lagos, with its wreckage later located near a Naval Base.