RismadarVoice Reporters
November 15, 2026
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced plans to hold a memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony in honour of victims of the October 5 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
According to a statement attributed to the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the ceremony is scheduled for November 26, 2026, at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.
The event is intended to provide an opportunity for bereaved families, colleagues, friends and members of the military community to honour those who lost their lives in the accident.
The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, identified as NAF 931, crashed in a swampy area of Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area, while travelling from Benin City to Lagos.
All 25 people aboard the aircraft, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, died in the accident.
The tragedy prompted three days of national mourning, declared by President Bola Tinubu, who also directed a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Meanwhile, the Air Force has confirmed the recovery of the aircraft’s Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), an important component in determining what happened during the flight.
In an update issued on November 6, Ejodame disclosed that technical teams from the NAF and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau had confirmed that the recovered recorder was intact.
He explained that part of the Flight Data Recorder had also been retrieved, while efforts continued to locate the remaining portion.
Additional aircraft wreckage, engine components and human remains were recovered during operations at the crash site.
The Air Force said the difficult swamp terrain had complicated recovery efforts, requiring specialised equipment and sustained technical operations.
It added that recovered human remains were undergoing appropriate identification procedures.
The NAF has also maintained contact with bereaved families, providing welfare assistance, counselling and information about the ongoing investigation.
The service previously announced arrangements to continue salary payments to the next of kin of deceased personnel until their death benefits are settled.
While the investigation continues, the Air Force has cautioned against speculation about the cause of the crash, stressing that conclusions must be based on verified technical evidence.
The planned memorial ceremony is expected to provide an occasion to remember the victims and acknowledge their service, while the military continues efforts to establish the circumstances of the tragedy.
