The traditional ruler describes the October 5 tragedy as a national loss, commends emergency responders and extends condolences to the Nigerian Air Force and bereaved families.
His Imperial Majesty, Oba Segun Williams Akinyomi, the Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, has called on the Federal Government to sand-fill the site of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda and preserve it as a lasting memorial in honour of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
The monarch made the appeal while expressing profound sorrow over the incident, which occurred on 5th October, 2026, in a swampy area near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
Oba Akinyomi described the crash as a painful national tragedy, urging the Federal Government to take deliberate steps to immortalise the victims and preserve the site as a symbol of remembrance, sacrifice and service to the nation.
According to official reports, the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was carrying 32 persons, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members, on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it reportedly lost contact with air traffic controllers at about 9:13 a.m. on Monday, 5th October, 2026.
The aircraft subsequently crashed in a swampy area close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, prompting the immediate activation of search-and-rescue operations by the Nigerian Air Force.
Reacting to the incident, the Amapetu said he received the news with shock and disbelief, describing the development as a devastating loss that had plunged the nation into mourning.
He stressed that the tragedy went beyond the immediate loss of lives, noting that it had deeply affected the families of the victims, the Nigerian Air Force and the country at large.
The monarch said the proposed sand-filling of the crash site would provide an opportunity to preserve the memory of the incident and honour the sacrifices of the personnel involved.
Having concluded the nine-day traditional rites in honour of the victims of the devastating plane crash in his kingdom, the Amapetu urged the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to give serious consideration to the proposal for the establishment of a befitting memorial. He emphasised that such a memorial would serve as an enduring tribute to the lives lost in the tragedy and a solemn reminder of the profound human cost of the disaster. He further stressed that it would honour the courage, professionalism, and selfless sacrifice of the pilot, whose decisive actions directed the aircraft towards a swampy area, thereby averting a potentially greater catastrophe within Igbokoda metropolis and sparing its residents from further devastation.
Oba Akinyomi expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the Nigerian Air Force and all those affected by the crash.
He noted that reports concerning the personal circumstances of some of the personnel had made the tragedy even more heartbreaking, particularly the report that one of the pilots had married just two weeks before the incident.
According to the monarch, such accounts underscore the human cost of the tragedy and the dreams, aspirations and family relationships disrupted by the unfortunate occurrence.
He also commended the people of Ondo State, the Ilaje Local Government, the Nigerian Navy and other emergency responders for their swift mobilisation, assistance and efforts to secure the crash site.
The traditional ruler acknowledged the importance of the response by local residents and relevant agencies, noting that their efforts demonstrated the value of community solidarity and cooperation among emergency services during a crisis.
The Amapetu prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the departed personnel and asked Almighty God to grant their families, colleagues and loved ones the strength to bear the irreparable loss.
He also extended his sympathies to the leadership and entire Nigerian Air Force community, urging them to remain steadfast during the difficult period.
Oba Akinyomi further called for continued support for the bereaved families, stressing the importance of compassion and solidarity in the aftermath of the tragedy.
He maintained that preserving the memory of the victims through an appropriate memorial would be a meaningful way to honour their lives and service to the nation.
He urged the Federal Government to consider the proposed memorialisation of the crash site, reiterating that the victims deserved to be remembered with dignity and respect.
For the people of Mahin Kingdom and the wider Ilaje community, the tragedy represents a moment of collective sorrow, with the monarch’s appeal highlighting the importance of preserving the memory of the departed while offering support to those left behind.
