Nigeria mourns as 32 killed in military plane crash

Nigeria has declared three days of national mourning following a military aircraft crash that killed 32 people. The plane was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when it crashed near a naval base in southern Ondo State on Monday morning. Among those who died were 25 passengers and seven crew members.

President Bola Tinubu offered his deepest condolences and has ordered a full investigation into the cause of the crash. He also directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country as a mark of respect for the fallen heroes. The accident is one of the deadliest air disasters in recent Nigerian history.

Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo reported the disappearance of the military aircraft, identified as an ATR-42 with tail number NGR 931, en route from Benin to Lagos at 0913 hours. He said efforts to establish radio contact with the plane were unsuccessful and confirmed that the aircraft had crashed near a naval base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. Search and rescue operations are currently underway.

The Nigerian Air Force is integral to the country's military operations, playing a crucial role in combating armed groups and addressing insecurity. This tragic incident is expected to prompt a thorough examination of safety protocols to prevent similar occurrences in the future.