Nigeria mourns as 32 killed in military plane crash

What the report says

Nigeria is in mourning after a military aircraft crashed in southern Ondo State, killing 32 people, according to BBC Africa. President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning, ordered flags flown at half-mast nationwide and directed a full investigation into the cause of the accident.

Authorities said the plane was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos when it went down on Monday morning near a naval base in Igbokoda. The aircraft, identified by officials as a military plane with tail number NGR 931, reportedly lost radio contact before the crash. BBC Africa reported that a resident saw smoke at the scene and that clothing and shoes were found near a swampy area.

Tinubu described the crash as a painful moment for the armed forces and the wider country, and said the service and sacrifice of air force personnel would not be forgotten. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said search and rescue efforts were underway and that the Air Force had been told to begin a thorough inquiry. The identities of those killed had not yet been released, pending notification of their families.

The crash is among the deadliest military aviation accidents in Nigeria in recent years. In general, such incidents often raise questions about aircraft safety, maintenance and operational risk in military aviation, especially in countries facing multiple security demands.