The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for a transparent investigation into the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State, particularly over the presence of civilians, including children, among those on board the military aircraft.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, raised concerns following the release by the Nigerian Air Force of the names of the 25 people who died in the crash.
According to the NAF, the ATR-42 aircraft had five crew members and 20 passengers, including six civilians, when it crashed near Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday. The aircraft was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos.
Abdullahi questioned why civilians, including children, were aboard an aircraft said to have been undertaking a routine military mission, urging the authorities to provide clear answers on the circumstances surrounding their presence.
The ADC said the investigation should establish the purpose of the mission, who authorised the presence of civilian passengers and the full circumstances that led to the crash. The party stressed that describing the flight as a “routine mission” does not, on its own, explain why civilians were transported on the aircraft.
The party also called for the investigation to be impartial and comprehensive, with its findings made public in the interest of the victims, their families and Nigerians.
The aircraft crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda while travelling from Benin City to Lagos. No survivor was found, and President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigerian Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.
The tragedy has sparked national mourning, with President Tinubu declaring three days of national mourning in honour of those who lost their lives in the incident.
