By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Search and rescue operations are ongoing in Igbokoda, Ondo State, after a military aircraft carrying 32 people crashed close to the Naval Base in the town, the Federal Government has confirmed.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, 5 October, 2026.
He said preliminary information suggested that the aircraft carried 25 passengers and seven crew members.
According to him, Air Traffic Controllers had earlier reported the disappearance of the aircraft, which has the tail number NGR 931, while it was flying from Benin to Lagos.
He said it disappeared from radar at about 9:13 am, after efforts to establish radio communication with the crew proved unsuccessful.
“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, en route Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,” he said.
Keyamo said information subsequently confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
He added that the wreckage had been located and that search and rescue operations were ongoing.
The Minister noted that the control and regulation of military aircraft fall completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and the Civil Aviation Authority.
He said, however, that he had spoken to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s total cooperation and assistance in the search and rescue efforts.
“Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently,” he said.
