UPDATED: No survivors as Nigeria releases names of crew members, passengers killed in crashed aircraft

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning following a military aircraft crash that claimed 32 lives. The plane, on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos, crashed near a naval base in Ondo State on Monday morning. Among the casualties were 25 passengers and seven crew members.

Authorities have described the crash site as being near a swamp, where items such as clothes and shoes were found. Smoke was visible rising from the area. President Tinubu conveyed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the accident. He also directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country as a mark of respect for the fallen.

The Air Force Minister, Festus Keyamo, informed Tinubu of the disappearance of the aircraft with tail number NGR 931, en route from Benin to Lagos. He stated that attempts to make contact with the aircraft via radio had failed before the official confirmation of the crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State. Rescue efforts are still underway.

The aircraft involved in the incident was an ATR-42, capable of carrying between 30 and 50 passengers, according to its manufacturer. The identities of the victims have not yet been released and will only be disclosed once their families have been notified.

The Nigerian Air Force plays a crucial role in the country's military operations, tackling armed groups and addressing insecurity in various parts of Nigeria. This accident marks one of the deadliest air disasters in Nigeria in recent years. In May 2021, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, the army chief, lost his life along with 10 other officers in a plane crash in Kaduna due to bad weather. In February of the same year, seven individuals died after a military plane crashed short of a runway in Abuja.