The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, says 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard a military aircraft that crashed in Ondo State on Monday.
Keyamo disclosed this in a statement on his X handle while giving an update about the incident.
“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, enroute Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,” the minister wrote.
“Subsequently information however confirmed that the military aircraft has crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing. Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board.
“Whilst the control and regulation of military aircraft are completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and Civil Aviation Authority, I have just spoken to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke and pledged our total cooperation and assistance in the search and rescue efforts ongoing. Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently.”
INFORMATION ON CRASH OF A MILITARY AIRCRAFT
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, enroute Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive.
Subsequently information however confirmed that the military aircraft has crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing.
Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board.
Whilst the control and regulation of military aircraft are completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation, and Civil Aviation Authority, I have just spoken to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke and pledged our total cooperation and assistance in the search and rescue efforts ongoing.
Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently.
— Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK) (@fkeyamo) October 5, 2026
The military aircraft, which was en route to Benin in Edo State from Lagos, crashed in the Igbokoda axis of the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Police authorities in Ondo State had earlier said details surrounding the incident were still emerging but called for calm.
“The Command urges members of the public, particularly residents of Igbokoda and adjoining communities, to remain calm and refrain from circulating unverified information,” the Ondo State Police Command spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, said.
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