Gloom at DHQ, AHQ, Navy, NAFHQ, over death of 25 ATR air-crash victims

There was pandemonium at the Defence Headquarters, Army Headquarters, Navy headquarters and the Headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force, as officers, soldiers, ratings, airmen and airwomen cried openly over the death of 25 officers, airmen and civilians in the ill-fated Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR 42 air crash in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on Monday.

Already the national flag and services’ flags are flying at half-mast in all the services’ headquarters, training institutions and units in the FCT.

The aircraft with 25 persons on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, was said to be on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.

The ATR 42-500MP, according to aviation records, was returned from storage PDM at Mönchengladbach, Germany, in December 2024 after being stored since 2021.

The news of the crash was confirmed by the NAF director of public relations and information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, who said the service along with other aviation stakeholders had launched search and rescue operations.

However, the search and rescue team confirmed all passengers on board the aircraft were dead and threw the nation into a mourning mood.

A visit to the services’ headquarters on Tuesday by Daily Sun showed that official activities at the services’ headquarters were at a low ebb and in a mourning mood as officers, soldiers and civilian staff gathered in small groups and wept openly as they discussed the sad incident.

Sympathisers comprising retired military officers, business partners among other dignitaries were also seen at the services’ headquarters to commiserate with their colleagues over the loss.

Some of the officers who said their coursemates were among the deceased personnel described the incident as a great loss to the NAF and Nigeria as a whole.

One of the deceased officers and co-pilot of the ill-fated ATR aircraft, Squadron Leader Ahamefule Man-Ugwueje, was said to have just got married to his bride, Flight Lieutenant Damilola Adekunle, on 20 September in Abuja.

One of the officers who spoke to Daily Sun said there may be more to the sudden crash of the aircraft but said investigations which have commenced will reveal the whole truth about the crash.

He said: “I find it very difficult to believe that the ATR, which is a surveillance aircraft, will just lose communications with the control tower shortly after take-off without showing signs of distress.”

He said: “If there was an emergency or technical hitches, the pilot would have called for Mayday to get an emergency landing permit, but we did not get any information and began to suspect something may have gone wrong when we could no longer establish contact with the aircraft.”

“This is a very sad moment for the NAF, the Nigerian military, because we lost a total of 19 officers and airmen, it is very devastating but we trust God to give us the strength to bear our grief,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said it has received with deep shock the news of the unfortunate crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos with military personnel and some members of families on board.

Director, Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, in a statement, said: “On behalf of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Defence Headquarters wishes to extend heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all persons involved, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the entire Armed Forces family.

“This is indeed a painful loss to the entire Armed Forces and the nation at large. Our personnel give their all daily to keep Nigeria safe. Their courage and sacrifices will never be forgotten.

“In compliance with the directive of the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, investigation will be conducted to ascertain the cause of the accident, while search and rescue efforts by the NAF in collaboration with sister services and emergency agencies continue at the site.

“The leadership of the Armed Forces wishes to assure all Nigerians that the Armed Forces will remain resolute and committed to our constitutional mandate of securing the nation, despite this painful setback. The sacrifice of our fallen heroes will continue to inspire our service to the nation.

“We appeal to the general public to refrain from speculations and to respect the privacy of the families affected in this difficult moment while official procedures continue.

“May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace, and may God grant their families the strength to bear this profound loss.”

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