Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, led senior Nigerian Air Force officers to Igbokoda, Ondo State, to oversee search, recovery, and technical investigation operations. The high level site visit followed Monday’s fatal aviation accident involving NAF ATR 42 aircraft, registered as NAF 931.
Arriving at the crash site, Air Marshal Aneke extended profound condolences to the families of all victims, honoring their selfless service, sacrifice, and dedication to national duty. He assured the bereaved relatives that the Air Force community stands fully united behind them during this deeply painful period of national grief.
The Air Force chief reaffirmed the military command’s resolve to carry out search and recovery operations according to global aviation standards, maintaining total operational transparency and administrative diligence. He emphasized that every technical detail would be examined to establish the precise cause of the accident.
Air Marshal Aneke commended the operational coordination exhibited by the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, National Emergency Management Agency, and the Ondo State Government. He further acknowledged the civil defense corps, Amotekun Corps, Hi Tech Construction Company, community leaders, and local volunteers for their joint response efforts.
Extending gratitude for executive support, the CAS appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing guidance and leadership throughout the crisis. He assured the commander in chief and the public that all retrieved evidence would be secured, documented, preserved, and subjected to forensic evaluation by aviation crash experts.
Head of the Investigation and Recovery Team, Air Vice Marshal EOE Ebiowe, confirmed that recovery operations are progressing smoothly across the crash area in close coordination with emergency agencies. AVM Ebiowe verified that the crash perimeter remains secured by armed personnel to preserve physical wreckage and flight recordings.
The investigation leadership added that all recovered items, flight instruments, and personal effects are being cataloged according to standard crash site protocols. The Nigerian Air Force remains focused on completing ground recovery operations while extending comprehensive psychosocial support to the families of the victims.
The military command urged the public and media outlets to refrain from spreading unverified speculation regarding the operational cause of the crash. Air Marshal Aneke requested patience as technical investigators work to produce a conclusive, fact-based report on the incident.
By: Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed
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