…Children, families wiped out
The Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, released the names of 25 victims of the ill-fated military aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State with five crew members and 20 passengers.
None of the passengers and crew members made it from the crashed aircraft that took off from Benin to Lagos on a routine mission until tragedy struck.
A statement by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, stated that the search-and-rescue teams were immediately deployed in coordination with relevant authorities, stressing that what they found was heartbreak.
This was as the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, broke down the loss in words that captured the mood of a nation as he described it as “a deeply painful moment” for the Nigerian Air Force and for Nigeria.
Aneke extended his heartfelt condolences to families, loved ones and colleagues left behind in shock and tears and assured the bereaved that the Service will stand with them in this difficult hour.
The Chief of Air Staff ordered a comprehensive investigation to unravel what went wrong.
The NAF particularly appealed to Nigerians to avoid speculations and the spread of unverified information, but respect the dignity and privacy of the grieving families.
The statement stated that a condolence register has been opened at NAF Headquarters, Abuja for senior government officials, diplomats, security chiefs and well-wishers to pay their respects.
Similarly, President Bola Tinubu on Monday declared three days of national mourning and ordered flags should flown at half-mast in honour of the dead.
The list of the victims included pilots, technicians, airmen, wives and children.
They include;
THE CREW – Five Brave Airmen—
- Squadron Leader MI Aburime – Flight Captain
2. Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje – Co-pilot
3. Flight Lieutenant IS Bako – Co-pilot
4. Warrant Officer Abubakar A – Aircraft Technician
5. Corporal Uguru HC – Aircraft Technician
—THE PASSENGERS – 20 Souls, Including Children—
- Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus
2. Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye
3. Flying Officer IM Adeshina
4. Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F
5. Master Warrant Officer Matini BA
6. Warrant Officer Nuhu FS
7. Flight Sergeant James RB
8. Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI
9. Sergeant Ani AE
10. Sergeant Izibenikien SI
11. Sergeant Alafuka C
12. Sergeant Mbadugha AN
13. Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC
14. Lance Corporal Eledan GE
15. Mrs Ezeh Nneka
16. Godstmine Tarabina
17. Joy Micheal
18. Sunday Micheal
19. Ukeme David
20. Gideon Omotola
