Sowore Demands Independent Probe After Air Force Crash

Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, visited the crash site of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on October 5. He called for an independent investigation, arguing that personnel responsible for maintenance and procurement should not be involved in the inquiry.

Sowore criticized the handling of the wreckage and victims' remains, stating that all parts of the aircraft must be recovered and examined by experts to determine the cause of the crash. He expressed anger over the loss of lives, emphasizing that the incident should not be treated as routine and lamented the death of a victim who had recently married.

The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that all 25 individuals on board, including five crew members and 20 passengers, died in the crash. Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, the Chief of the Air Staff, stated that a thorough investigation would be conducted to secure and document relevant evidence.