Authorities said the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when it crashed into a swamp near a naval base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday morning. After reaching the site, officials found the wreckage submerged under water. A local resident told the BBC that clothes and shoes had been found at the scene and smoke could be seen rising from the area.
President Tinubu offered his deepest condolences for the 25 passengers and seven crew members and ordered a full investigation. "This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation," Tinubu said. "Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten."
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo earlier said he had been informed of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, en route to Lagos from Benin at 09:13 local time. He said efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive before confirmation that it had crashed near the naval base. Search and rescue efforts were ongoing, he added.
The crashed plane is an ATR-42, a twin-engine turboprop typically carrying between 30 and 50 passengers, according to its manufacturer. The aircraft was found submerged in the swamp, and recovery operations are continuing.