Senate postpones security summit in honour of plane crash victims

The Nigerian Senate has postponed its National Security Summit, originally slated for October 12 and 13, 2026, to pay tribute to the 25 officers who perished in an NAF ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State. Senate President Opeyemi Bamidele made the announcement in a statement, explaining that the tragedy necessitated the delay of the summit.

The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, carrying officers and crew members, crashed on Monday, resulting in fatalities. The Senate had convened the summit to address the country's security challenges and devise effective measures to ensure the safety of lives and property. President Bola Tinubu had previously declared a three-day national mourning period and directed that flags be flown at half-mast in honor of the victims.

The Senate expressed its condolences to the President, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the NAF, and the families of the officers and crew who made the ultimate sacrifice. A new date for the summit will be communicated at a later time, and the Senate appealed to stakeholders to patiently await further updates during the period of national mourning.