By Kingston Magare 6.10.2026
All the 25 crew members and passengers on the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft, NAF 931, which crashed in the Igbokoda, Ondo State have been confirmed dead, and the NAF authorities have released their identities.
The Aircraft was travelling from Benin City to Lagos on Monday when it disappeared from radar and lost contact with air control. Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke expressed NAF condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the victims.
“NAF 931 had 25 persons on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred,” said NAF director of public relations and information Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, in a statement on Tuesday.
“Search-and-rescue procedures were immediately activated, with response efforts conducted in coordination with relevant authorities to locate and account for all persons on board. No survivors have been found.”
The five crew members are Squadron Leader MI Aburime, the flight captain; Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje, co-pilot who was newly wedded; Flight Lieutenant I.S Bako, co-pilot; Warrant Officer Abubakar A, aircraft technician; and Corporal Uguru HC, aircraft technician.
The passengers were Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus, Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye, Flying Officer IM Adeshina, Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F, Master Warrant Officer Matini BA, Warrant Officer Nuhu FS, Flight Sergeant James RB, Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI, Sergeant Ani AE and Sergeant Izibenikien SI.
Others were Sergeant Alafuka C, Sergeant Mbadugha AN, Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC, Lance Corporal Eledan GE, Mrs Ezeh Nneka, Godstmine Tarabina, Joy Micheal, Sunday Micheal, Ukeme David and Gideon Omotola.
Investigations into the cause of the crash which occurred in a swampy terrain not far from a Navy base in Igbokoda are currently on-going and according to NAF, updates will be made available to the public.
It also appealed to members of the public to respect the privacy and dignity of the affected families.
According to Sahara reporters the aircraft was acquaired under a $73 million deal signed in 2007 and delivered in December 2010 by Alenia Aeronautica, now Leonardo.
The aircraft was sent to Germany in January 2022 for Periodic Depot Maintenance at the Rheinland Air Service facility in Monchengladbach and remained on the ground for almost four years before returning to Nigeria in late December 2024.