•Assures families of thorough investigation
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, on Thursday, led senior Nigerian Air Force (NAF) officials to Igbokoda, Ondo State, to assess ongoing search, recovery and investigative efforts following the accident involving a NAF aircraft in the community.
This was conveyed in a statement in Abuja by the spokesperson for NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.
Ejodame said, at the site, the CAS expressed profound condolences to the families of the personnel and passengers who lost their lives, paying tribute to their service, sacrifice and commitment to the nation.
He added that Air Marshal Aneke reaffirmed the “Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to ensuring that the ongoing response is conducted with the highest standards of professionalism, coordination and diligence.”
He added that the CAS commended the dedication and professionalism of NAF personnel, and other stakeholders involved in the operation, including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ondo State Government, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps, Hi-Tech Construction Company, local authorities, community leaders and volunteers, whose support has been invaluable to the efforts.
He also assured the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public that NAF leadership remained fully engaged in the recovery and investigation process and stressed that all relevant evidence would be carefully secured, documented, preserved and examined.
The NAF boss noted that the circumstances surrounding the accident would be subjected to a thorough and professional investigation in accordance with established procedures.
The statement by Ejodame added that Air Marshal Aneke emphasised that the search, recovery and investigative activities remained ongoing and cautioned against speculation regarding the cause of the accident.
He noted that it was premature to draw conclusions at this stage, as all relevant evidence and factors must be meticulously assessed before any determination can be made and reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to professionalism, transparency and accountability, while assuring the affected families of the Service’s continued support.
He also used the opportunity to thank the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, for his “guidance and leadership during these challenging times”.
The statement added that while providing an operational update, the Head of the Investigation and Recovery Team, Air Vice Marshal EOE Ebiowe, stated that recovery efforts were progressing in close coordination with relevant aviation, security and emergency-response agencies.
He confirmed that the accident site remained secured, while recovered items and other relevant evidence were being properly documented and preserved to support the ongoing investigation. He reiterated that no conclusion on the cause of the accident can be made until the investigation is concluded.
The statement reaffirmed that the Nigerian Air Force remained deeply grateful for the support and cooperation of all government agencies, security and emergency-response organisations, local authorities, host communities and members of the public.
It added that the service remained focused on completing the recovery operation, preserving all relevant evidence and supporting a comprehensive and professional investigation, while continuing to provide appropriate support to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident