The Nigerian Air Force has announced plans to hold a memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony on November 26 in honour of the 25 people who died in the October 5 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The ceremony, scheduled to take place at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja, will bring together families of the deceased, colleagues, friends and members of the Air Force community to pay their final respects.
The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, announced this in a statement on Sunday.
He said the event would provide an opportunity to celebrate the lives and service of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
According to him, the ceremony is intended to “honour the memories of the departed and recognise their service and sacrifice”.
Meanwhile, the Air Force disclosed that the Cockpit Voice Recorder of the crashed aircraft had been recovered alongside other wreckage and materials relevant to the ongoing investigation.
It said information retrieved from the recorder was undergoing analysis and would help investigators establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.
“The investigation is progressing steadily in collaboration with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),” the statement said.
The Service added that recovery operations had yielded several human remains and aircraft fragments, while efforts to identify the recovered remains were still ongoing.
It explained that the exercise had been challenging because of the swampy nature of the crash site and the depth at which some parts of the aircraft were buried.
The NAF also said it was working with relevant authorities to address environmental concerns associated with the recovery exercise and ensure that appropriate remediation measures were taken afterwards.
Reaffirming its commitment to the investigation, the Air Force said it would maintain professionalism, transparency and accountability throughout the process.
“The NAF remains committed to ensuring that the investigation is conducted in accordance with the highest standards of professionalism, transparency, accountability and responsibility,” it stated.
The Service also expressed appreciation to government agencies, host communities and other stakeholders for their cooperation, assuring the bereaved families of its continued support.
The accident occurred on October 5, 2026, when an NAF ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed in a swampy location near Igbokoda, Ondo State, while travelling from Benin City to Lagos.
The aircraft was reportedly carrying 25 people, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. The Air Force later confirmed that there were no survivors.
Following the incident, President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning and directed that an investigation be conducted to determine the cause of the crash.
The NAF subsequently established a 12-member Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
