The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded clear answers over the presence of civilians, including children, aboard the Nigerian Air Force aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, raised concerns following the Nigerian Air Force’s release of the names of the 25 people who died in the crash.
The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, identified as NAF 931, crashed on Monday, October 5, while on what authorities described as a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos. The Air Force later confirmed that five crew members and 20 passengers were on board and that there were no survivors.
The Defence Headquarters had earlier disclosed that the aircraft was carrying military personnel and some family members, while the ADC said the reported presence of civilians and children raised important questions about the nature and authorisation of the mission.
According to Abdullahi, the ongoing investigation should establish the purpose of the flight, who authorised civilian passengers to be on board and the circumstances that led to the crash.
The ADC stressed that describing the flight as a “routine mission” does not by itself explain why civilians were aboard a military aircraft or clarify the arrangements surrounding the journey.
The party called for a transparent and comprehensive investigation, saying the findings should be made public to provide answers to the families of the victims and Nigerians.
The crash has also prompted wider questions about the maintenance and funding of Nigerian Air Force aircraft. The ADC separately called for an audit of funds released for NAF aircraft maintenance and urged authorities to examine maintenance records, procurement practices, budgetary releases and actual expenditure as part of the investigation.
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigerian Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash, while authorities continue to handle the aftermath of the tragedy.
The ADC said establishing the circumstances surrounding the flight, including the presence of civilian passengers, is necessary to promote accountability and help prevent similar incidents in the future.
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