Nigeria military aircraft crashes with more than 30 onboard

Air force spokesman Ehimen Ejodame said the aircraft was on a "routine mission" from Benin City in Nigeria's south to the economic hub Lagos when it went down at Igbokoda in Ondo state.

Image used for representational purpose. Photo | Pexels

LAGOS: A Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed Monday in southwestern Nigeria's Ondo state with 32 people on board, according to the military and the aviation minister.

Air force spokesman Ehimen Ejodame said the aircraft was on a "routine mission" from Benin City in Nigeria's south to the economic hub Lagos when it went down at Igbokoda in Ondo state.

"Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board," Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said on X.

INFORMATION ON CRASH OF A MILITARY AIRCRAFT I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, enroute Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive. Subsequently information however confirmed that the military aircraft has crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing. Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board. Whilst the control and regulation of military aircraft are completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation, and Civil Aviation Authority, I have just spoken to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke and pledged our total cooperation and assistance in the search and rescue efforts ongoing. Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently.

— Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK) (@fkeyamo) October 5, 2026

Keyamo added that the wreckage of the aircraft, which crashed near a naval base, had been found.

A video circulating on social media showed a small crowd gathered near a river as rescuers searched the area by boat.

"Search and rescue operations, in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies, are currently ongoing," Ejodame said.