Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed grief over the deaths of 25 people in the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State.
Atiku described the incident as a tragic loss while extending his condolences to the victims’ families, the Nigerian Air Force and the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The former Vice President, in a post on his verified X handle on Tuesday, said the tragedy would be especially devastating for families who lost loved ones in the crash.
He wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the tragic Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State that claimed 25 lives.
The scale and circumstances of this tragedy are heartbreaking. Among those who lost their lives were airmen, soldiers and members of their families. Lives of service, promise and innocence were extinguished in one devastating moment.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families of all the deceased. No words can adequately comfort parents who have lost children, children who have lost parents, or families suddenly deprived of their loved ones.”
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Atiku also sympathised with the Nigerian Air Force, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, as well as the governments and people of Nigeria and Ondo State.
He prayed for the deceased and asked God to strengthen their families and the nation as they mourned the loss.
“May Almighty God grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed, comfort their grieving families and give the Nigerian Air Force and our nation the strength to bear this painful loss,” Atiku said.
The Nigerian Air Force had earlier confirmed that all 25 people aboard an NAF ATR-42 aircraft died after it crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State.
The aircraft, identified by registration number NAF 931, was conducting a routine flight from Benin to Lagos when the crash occurred.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the aircraft had five crew members and 20 passengers on board.