US mission mourns victims of Ondo air crash

Parts of the aircraft, NAF officers uniforms and other items were recovered from the crashed Nigerian Airforce aircraft in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State... on Monday. Photos: Peter Dada and Facebook|Apoi Daily Post

The United States Mission in Nigeria has expressed condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those killed in the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.

The US Mission conveyed its condolences in a post shared on its official X account on Tuesday, joining the growing tributes to the victims of the crash.

“The US Mission in Nigeria sends our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of those lost in yesterday’s Nigerian Air Force crash,” the mission said.

The statement came a day after the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, NAF 931, crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, while on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.

The crash claimed the lives of all 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, according to the Nigerian Air Force.
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The victims included military personnel and civilians, with the NAF releasing their names on Tuesday as search and recovery teams continued operations at the crash site.

The US Mission also linked its condolences to the longstanding security relationship between Nigeria and the United States.

“We stand with the people of Nigeria and remain committed to our strong security partnership,” it added.

The crash has drawn reactions from government officials, families, security agencies and other institutions, with President Bola Tinubu declaring three days of national mourning for the fallen military personnel.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the incident as “a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation” and ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Samuel Omotere

Samuel Omotere is an experienced journalist covering human interest stories, pop culture, and digital trends. He combines his background as a language graduate with a focus on sustainable digital storytelling.

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