Ondo Crash: ADC Questions Why Civilians, Children Were On Board Air Force ‘Routine Mission’

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded an explanation from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) over the presence of civilians, including children, aboard the military aircraft that crashed in Ondo State on Monday.

The party said the Nigerian Air Force must explain the purpose of the flight, who authorised the passengers to be on board and the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The ADC’s demand came after the Nigerian Air Force released the names of the 25 people who died when its ATR-42 aircraft, NAF 931, crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State.

The Air Force said the aircraft had five crew members and 20 passengers and was on a “routine mission” from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos when it crashed.

No survivor was found.

Among those listed as passengers were military personnel as well as Mrs Ezeh Nneka, Godstmine Tarabina, Joy Micheal, Sunday Micheal, Ukeme David and Gideon Omotola. The Air Force did not publicly identify the ages or specific status of the civilian passengers in its casualty list.

The crash occurred in the Igbokoda area after air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft while it was travelling from Benin to Lagos. The wreckage was subsequently located near a naval base in Ondo State.

In a statement issued, the ADC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the release of the names had raised fresh questions that must be addressed by the authorities.

“Following the Nigerian Air Force’s release of the names of casualties in Monday’s NAF ATR-42 aircraft crash, the ADC demands a clear explanation: why were civilians, including children, aboard a military aircraft that was on a ‘routine mission’?” Abdullahi said.

The party said the investigation it had demanded immediately after the crash must now establish three key issues.

According to Abdullahi, investigators must determine the purpose of the mission, who authorised the presence of the passengers on the aircraft and the circumstances that led to the crash.

“‘Routine mission’ is a description of an event, not an explanation,” he said.

“Hence, the families of the victims deserve answers, while the entire nation deserves accountability.”

The ADC’s demand comes as questions remain over the composition of the passengers on board the military aircraft.

The NAF said NAF 931 was conducting a routine mission from Benin to Lagos, but did not, in its casualty statement, provide details on why the 20 passengers were aboard the aircraft or distinguish between military personnel and civilian passengers beyond listing their names and ranks where applicable.

The aircraft was identified as an ATR-42, a twin-engine turboprop aircraft used by the Air Force for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, as well as search-and-rescue and limited transport duties. The aircraft was operated by the NAF’s 81 Air Maritime Group in Benin City.

The crash has also raised broader questions about the maintenance and funding of military aircraft.

The ADC had separately called for an audit of budgetary releases and expenditure on the maintenance of the Nigerian Air Force fleet, arguing that the investigation should examine the aircraft’s maintenance history, availability of spare parts, compliance with maintenance schedules and actual expenditure on aircraft maintenance.

The Air Force has said its Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, directed a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.

The NAF also urged the public to refrain from speculation and the circulation of unverified information as the investigation progresses.

The aircraft crash has already triggered national mourning, with President Bola Tinubu declaring three days of national mourning for the victims.

The ADC said, however, that beyond mourning the dead, the government must provide clear answers to the families and the public about how the military aircraft came to carry civilians and what happened before it went down.

The party’s demand comes amid continuing uncertainty over the circumstances of the crash and discrepancies in the number of people initially reported to have been aboard the aircraft.

On Monday, officials said 32 people were on board, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members. The NAF’s subsequent statement revised the figure to 25 people,  five crew members and 20 passengers. Authorities have not publicly explained the discrepancy.

The ADC said the investigation should therefore provide a full account of the flight, its passengers, authorisation, operational purpose and the circumstances that preceded the crash.(SaharaReporters)