…mourns fallen personnel after nine-day traditional rites, commends emergency responders
The Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Segun Williams Akinyomi, has urged 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 the personnel who lost their lives.
The monarch made the appeal after the conclusion of nine-day traditional rites held in honour of the victims of the October 5, 2026 tragedy, which occurred in a swampy area near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
Oba Akinyomi described the incident as a painful national tragedy, saying that preserving the site would serve as an enduring symbol of remembrance, sacrifice and service to the nation.
He urged the Federal Government and relevant authorities to consider establishing a befitting memorial at the site to honour the departed personnel and preserve the memory of the tragedy for future generations.
According to 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 October 5.
The aircraft subsequently crashed in a swampy area close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, prompting search-and-rescue operations by the Nigerian Air Force and other relevant agencies.
Reacting to the incident, the Amapetu said he received the news with shock and disbelief, noting that the tragedy had plunged the nation into mourning and left the victims’ families, colleagues and the Nigerian Air Force with an irreparable loss.
The monarch also commended the courage and professionalism of the pilot, noting that the decision to direct the aircraft towards a swampy area helped avert what could have been a greater catastrophe within Igbokoda metropolis.
He said the pilot’s action potentially spared residents from further devastation, stressing that the sacrifice deserved to be remembered as part of the proposed memorial.
Oba Akinyomi expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, the leadership and members of the Nigerian Air Force, as well as all those affected by the incident.
He said reports about the personal circumstances of some of the victims had made the tragedy even more heartbreaking, particularly the report that one of the pilots had married just two weeks before the crash.
According to him, such accounts highlight the human cost of the disaster and the dreams, aspirations and family relationships cut short by the unfortunate incident.
The traditional ruler also commended the people of Ondo State, the Ilaje Local Government, the Nigerian Navy and other emergency responders for their mobilisation, assistance and efforts to secure the crash site.
He noted that the response demonstrated the importance of community solidarity and cooperation among relevant agencies during emergencies.
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 loss.
He further called for sustained support for the bereaved families, emphasising that compassion and solidarity remained essential in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Oba Akinyomi reiterated that preserving the crash site as a memorial would be a meaningful way to honour the victims’ service to the nation and ensure that their sacrifice was not forgotten.
For the people of Mahin Kingdom and the wider Ilaje community, the tragedy remains a moment of collective sorrow, with the monarch’s appeal underscoring the need to honour the departed and support those they left behind.
