Families, friends and colleagues of some personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) killed in an ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, have taken to social media to mourn their loved ones, sharing messages of grief and memories of the victims lost in the tragedy.

Among the late officers was Squadron Leader Ahamefule Man-Ugwueje, a pilot, who got married barely two weeks before the tragic incident. Man-Ugwueje had tied the knot with his colleague, Flight Lieutenant Damilola Adekunle, on September 19, 2026, in an elaborate wedding ceremony held in Abuja.

Earlier reports said the aircraft with tail number NGR 931 was carrying 32 people — 25 passengers and seven crew members — on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed into the swamp opposite the Naval Base in Igbokoda on Monday morning.

But a list released on Tuesday by NAF stated that five crew members and 20 passengers were onboard the plane. The crew were identified as Squadron Leader MI Aburime (Flight Captain), Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje (co-pilot), Flight Lieutenant IS Bako (co-pilot), Warrant Officer Abubakar A (Aircraft Technician) and Corporal Uguru HC (Aircraft Technician).

The passengers included Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus, Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye, Flying Officer IM Adeshina, Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F, Master Warrant Officer Matini BA, Warrant Officer Nuhu FS, Flight Sergeant James RB, Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI and Sergeant Ani AE.

Others were Sergeant Izibenikien SI, Sergeant Alafuka C, Sergeant Mbadugha AN, Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC, Lance Corporal Eledan GE, Mrs Ezeh Nneka, Godstmine Tarabina, Joy Michael, Sunday Michael, Ukeme David and Gideon Omotola.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m. According to him, air traffic controllers alerted authorities after attempts to establish radio contact with the aircraft failed.

Two weeks before the ill-fated crash, Squadron Leader Man-Ugwueje had married Flight Lieutenant Adekunle. Photographs from the wedding showed the couple holding hands and smiling as they began a new chapter of their lives.

According to the wedding invitation, the Holy Matrimony took place at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), The Master’s Place, Plot 826, Solomon Lar Way, opposite the NHIS Headquarters and Customary Court of Appeal, Utako, Abuja.

The reception was later held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre, Km 10 Expressway, Asokoro, Abuja. The invitation also identified the groom as the son of retired Group Captain Man-Ugwueje.

Man-Ugwueje’s career had taken him through several stages of military training. He attended Air Force Comprehensive School, Oyo State, from 2001 to 2007 before proceeding to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, where he studied civil engineering.

As a student, he was among the authors of a research paper examining waste management at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna.

He later moved into military aviation and, in April 2018, was among 14 NAF officers decorated with pilot wings after completing flight training in Nigeria and South Africa. He was then a flying officer.

He rose through the ranks to become a squadron leader and served as a co-pilot in the NAF.

Izibenikien Timothy, a family member of the late airman, in a cryptic note posted on Facebook on Tuesday, stated, “It is well. God knows.”

The post attracted an outpouring of condolences from friends and acquaintances.

In a thread, Sadeeq Adamu Nyelong wrote, “My condolences JT. Stay strong, brother,” while Obasi Testimony said, “God knows best, brother… I’m so sorry for your loss, brother.”

Another victim whose military career had barely begun was Flying Officer IM Adeshina.

On Tuesday, tributes poured in on Facebook for Adeshina, who was described as the best graduating cadet of Branch Commission Course 3. He was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a flying officer on September 26, 2026.

In one of the pictures taken at the commissioning, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, was seen presenting a plaque to Adeshina. Nine days later, on October 5, he died in the aircraft crash.

According to a tribute circulated on social media on Tuesday following the crash, Squadron Leader MI Aburime joined the NDA as a member of the 62nd Regular Combatant Course in 2010 and, like Man-Ugwueje, was commissioned as a pilot officer into the NAF on September 12, 2015. He also rose through the ranks to squadron leader in August 2025.

Flight Lieutenant IS Bako (co-pilot) joined the NDA as a member of the 67th Regular Combatant Course in September 2015 and was commissioned into the NAF as a pilot officer in October 2020.

He was promoted to the rank of flight lieutenant in September 2025. A tribute to the three officers described their deaths as a “painful exit” and said they had “paid the supreme sacrifice”.

NAF begins probe, opens condolence register

Authorities of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday ordered a probe into the causes of the crash. The Force has also opened a condolence register at its headquarters in Abuja for senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, heads of security agencies, and other people to commiserate with it and the family members of the deceased officers.

Giving an update about the incident, the NAF spokesman, Ehimen Ejodame, explained that no survivor had been found following the accident, which prompted the immediate activation of search-and-rescue operations in coordination with relevant authorities.

While mourning the deceased on Tuesday, the Chief of Air Staff, Sunday Aneke, was said to have directed a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Aneke described the incident as a “deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation”, expressing heartfelt sympathies to the families, loved ones and colleagues of those who lost their lives.

The Air Chief, according to Ehimen, while conveying messages of sympathy to the families of the deceased, assured the bereaved families of the service’s full support during this difficult period.

He said the Nigerian Air Force would continue to provide timely and verified updates as the investigation progresses, while urging the public to refrain from speculation.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), has ordered tighter safety protocols that will safeguard the lives of the military personnel.

Musa, in a condolence message, said the loss of “these valiant patriots” is an irreparable blow not only to the military high command and their comrades-in-arms, but to the entire country.

He said, “A comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate crash has been ordered to ascertain the cause and ensure all necessary operational safety protocols are reinforced across our military aviation units.”

The minister condoled with the families of the deceased officers, saying the officers and men exemplified the highest standards of military professionalism, loyalty and commitment to the country.

He said, “It is with a profound sense of grief and heavy heart that I, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria, express deep sorrow over the tragic crash of our military aircraft with tail number NAF 931 involving dedicated personnel of the Armed Forces.

“This painful incident claimed the lives of brave officers and airmen who were engaged in a routine flight mission while serving our nation with courage, unyielding devotion, and selfless patriotism.

“The loss of these valiant patriots is an irreparable blow not only to the military high command and their comrades-in-arms, but to the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria. These fine officers and men exemplify the highest standards of military professionalism, loyalty, and commitment to the defence of our Fatherland.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, I extend our heartfelt condolences to His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the leadership of the Armed Forces, and most especially, the immediate families, loved ones, and colleagues of our fallen heroes.

“We share in your immense grief and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you during this tragic hour. Our hearts also go out to the families of the civilians on board the ill-fated aircraft; we share your grief. We pray that the Almighty God grants the souls of the departed eternal repose, and gives their families, the military community, and all Nigerians the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

No evacuation 1 day after

More than 24 hours after the ATR-42 aircraft crashed into the swampy area, rescue teams were still battling to access the wreckage as victims remained trapped in the wreckage.

One of our correspondents, who visited the coastal community, observed that recovery efforts were progressing slowly due to the difficult terrain, with emergency responders struggling to reach the aircraft buried deep inside the swamp.

The crash site is surrounded by creeks, mangroves and thick vegetation, making access difficult for divers, security personnel and rescue workers.

Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, said the terrain had posed a major challenge to recovery efforts since the incident occurred on Monday.

“What happened yesterday (Monday) was quite unfortunate. It’s a very difficult terrain, the creeks and mangroves. Accessing the site of the crash was not easy. I had to use a smaller boat to access it,” he said.

Ohagwu commended personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Marine Police and the Divisional Police Officer in Igbokoda for their support, adding that efforts to recover the wreckage were still ongoing.

Residents of the community expressed concern over the slow pace of the operation and the uncertainty surrounding the fate of those on board the aircraft.

A resident, Dare Omowale, said the delay in accessing the crash site had heightened fears that there might be no survivors.

“What happened yesterday was very disastrous. According to what I saw, there have not been any survivors. I am not happy as the situation has not changed since Monday. They have not been able to check for survivors inside the water or recover bodies,” he said.

Omowale warned that prolonged delay in recovering the victims could affect economic activities in the area.

“If the rescuers are not able to bring out the bodies today, it would be too bad for our community because this is where we fish. We wouldn’t be able to enter there to do our farming because the naval officers have restricted access to the area and we need to farm there,” he added.

Another resident, Kola Obesore, who joined other community members at the waterfront awaiting updates from rescue teams, described the situation as frustrating.

“We have been here to witness how they would evacuate the bodies from the water. We are not happy about the situation happening here. We still hope there will be survivors, but this is more than 24 hours and they have not even gotten to the point where the aircraft crashed. This is too bad and slow,” he said.

Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, said he had been coordinating rescue efforts alongside military authorities and emergency responders deployed to the area.

According to him, ambulances and medical personnel from hospitals across the two local government areas had been mobilised on the directive of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Explaining why a swamp buggy excavator had yet to reach the crash location, Ajaka said the equipment had to be transported from Ore and deployed under difficult conditions.

“The excavator is heavy equipment. We had to bring it all the way from Ore to Igbokoda, which is more than three hours. We all know the swampy terrain here. To get it into the water is very difficult, but tonight it is going to enter the water,” he said.

Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, said divers encountered difficulties locating the submerged aircraft but had identified what appeared to be parts of the wreckage.

“I saw the divers trying to see where the aircraft was, but they were finding it extremely difficult. When I was leaving, one of them said he was able to spot it. They could only bring out parts and we felt that was the particular spot of the wreckage,” he said.

He explained that the government opted to deploy a swamp buggy after smaller boats proved inadequate for the operation.

Shettima, ACF mourn, ADC demands probe

Vice President Kashim Shettima has paid tribute to the officers who lost their lives in the crash, saying their supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation would never be forgotten.

Shettima assured the bereaved families that the federal government’s responsibility to them would not end with words of condolence, noting that a nation that asks its citizens to serve must also remember those who pay the ultimate price in that service.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) condoled the families of the deceased in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba.

The forum expressed particular concern over the loss of military personnel, acknowledging their crucial role in the fight against insecurity, insurgency and terrorism.

“The loss of lives is tragic in all its ramifications, coming as it did at a very critical and challenging time in the nation,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for an audit of the alleged “non-implementation of defence budgets needed for the regular maintenance of aircraft in service with the Nigerian Air Force.”

In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party commiserated with the families of the victims of the crash, describing the incident as “tragic and unfortunate”.

The ADC, however, said the incident highlighted the poor funding of defence budgets in the country.

“While we do not intend to prejudice ongoing investigations into the cause of this tragic crash, we believe that this sad moment also provides an opportunity to raise, yet again, questions about the non-implementation of the defence budget and the perennial neglect of military equipment,” the party said.

Citing official figures, the opposition party stated that, by December 2025, the Federal Government had released a paltry N4.5 billion, representing only about 13.98 per cent of the N34.71 billion budgeted for the maintenance of Nigerian Air Force aircraft.

This, the party said, “stood in sharp contrast to the N20.74 billion allocated for the maintenance of the Presidential Air Fleet, of which N20.27 billion had been released over the same period, representing 97.76 per cent. Put simply, while the fleet that serves a handful of people in power got almost every kobo it asked for, the fleet that serves and protects 200 million Nigerians was left with crumbs,” ADC said.

While insisting that the safety of the president matters, ADC said the safety of the pilots and airmen who put their lives on the line in defence of the country also deserves adequate attention. “Patriotism does not replace spare parts, and condolence messages do not take the place of accountability,” the party added.

The party, therefore, demanded that investigations into the cause of the crash should also “examine the maintenance of defence equipment, especially the Nigerian Air Force fleet, and include an audit of maintenance expenditure and budgetary releases.” (Daily Trust)

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