Nigeria declares three days of mourning after military plane crash kills 32

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning following a military aircraft crash in southern Ondo State that resulted in the deaths of 32 individuals. The aircraft, which was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos, crashed into a swamp near a naval base on Monday morning. Authorities reported that the plane was found submerged in water at the crash site. A local resident indicated that personal items, including clothes and shoes, were discovered at the location, with smoke visible in the area. Tinubu expressed his condolences for the 25 passengers and seven crew members aboard the aircraft and has mandated a full investigation into the incident. National flags are to be flown at half-mast in honor of the deceased. "This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation," Tinubu stated, adding that the sacrifices of Air Force personnel will not be forgotten. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo confirmed that the military aircraft, identified by tail number NGR 931, lost contact while en route to Lagos at 09:13 hours. He noted that attempts to communicate with the aircraft were unsuccessful before the crash was confirmed. Search and rescue operations are currently underway. The ATR-42 aircraft involved in the incident has a capacity of 30 to 50 passengers, as per its manufacturers. The Nigerian Air Force has released the names of the deceased, indicating that most were military personnel. Tinubu has instructed the Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the crash's cause to prevent future occurrences. This incident is among the deadliest air disasters in Nigeria in recent years, following previous crashes that resulted in multiple fatalities, including the death of army chief Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru in May 2021.