Igbokoda:Nigeria declared three days of mourning following a tragic military aircraft crash in the southwestern state of Ondo, where 32 people were on board.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed on Monday near a naval base in Igbokoda. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft shortly after it took off from Benin City. The plane was en route from Benin to Lagos, as confirmed by Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo.

The aircraft was on a routine mission and had 25 passengers and seven crew members aboard. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed the loss of Air Force personnel and announced a national period of mourning. He also ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast across Nigeria, stating, "This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation."

The crash site, located in a swampy area near the naval base, posed challenges for rescue operations. Local fishermen joined military and emergency responders to reach the wreckage, where witnesses reported seeing aircraft debris and personal belongings scattered about.

The investigation into the crash's circumstances is ongoing, and the Nigerian Air Force has yet to release the names of the deceased personnel, pending notification of their families.