Makinde Demands Probe Into Ondo Military Aircraft Crash, Raises Questions Over Troops’ Welfare

The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Governor Seyi Makinde, has called for a comprehensive investigation into the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash near the Igbokoda Naval Base in Ondo State.

The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed on Monday while travelling from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos on a routine mission. The Air Force later confirmed that 25 people — 20 passengers and five crew members — were on board, and that there were no survivors.

Makinde, through the Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation (MDPCO), said the incident had raised questions about the safety of military personnel, the condition of military equipment and the welfare of members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the organisation's Director of Strategic Communications, Richard Ihediwa, the campaign organisation commiserated with the families of the victims and the Nigerian military while calling for a wide-ranging investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The organisation also recalled the August 2023 Nigerian Air Force helicopter crash in Shiroro, Niger State, which occurred during a casualty evacuation operation involving wounded troops.

According to the campaign organisation, the latest crash and previous military aviation accidents warrant closer examination of equipment, maintenance, training and the welfare of military personnel.

The MDPCO said the resources allocated to national security should translate into adequate equipment, appropriate training and improved welfare for military and other security personnel.

It also said that, under a prospective Makinde-Daura administration, the training, equipment and welfare of the Armed Forces and other security agencies would receive greater attention.

While expressing sympathy to the Nigerian military and families of the victims, the campaign organisation called for a comprehensive investigation to establish what caused the crash and determine whether any preventable factors contributed to the incident.

President Bola Tinubu has already directed the Nigerian Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has also offered technical assistance to the Air Force, including the deployment of investigators and support for the recovery, reading and analysis of flight-recorder data.

However, the NSIB said that because the aircraft was a military aircraft, investigative responsibility rests with the Nigerian Air Force. The bureau said it could provide technical assistance if formally invited by the military.

The MDPCO urged Nigerians to continue praying for the country and its Armed Forces, while stressing that lessons from the tragedy should be used to strengthen military aviation safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.