-
Engr. Emem Coffie mourns victims of Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 crash in Ondo State.
-
Calls for an investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the crash.
-
Urges the government to provide adequate compensation and support to victims’ families.
-
Describes the deceased military personnel as heroes who sacrificed for Nigeria’s unity and security.
October 7, (THEWILL) – Engr. Emem Coffie, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Accord Party in Akwa Ibom State, has called for a thorough investigation into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash in Ondo State, urging the Federal Government to compensate the families of the victims adequately.
Coffie, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the call while expressing deep sadness over the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near a naval base in Ondo State.
Reports indicated that the aircraft, which was on a routine support mission from Benin City to Lagos on Monday, October 5, 2026, crashed after air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13 a.m.
The incident reportedly involved 32 people on board, with authorities reporting no survivors.
Reacting to the tragedy, Coffie described the incident as devastating, stressing that the affected military personnel had made significant sacrifices in the service of the country.
“I am deeply saddened by the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near a naval base in Ondo State, South-West Nigeria. Sadly, the authorities have reported no survivors among the 32 persons on board”, he stated.
READ ALSO:
Coffie extended his condolences to the Nigerian Air Force and the immediate families of the deceased, describing the personnel as heroes who sacrificed for the security, unity and peaceful coexistence of Nigeria.
He told THEWILL Nigeria that the government must go beyond expressing condolences by ensuring that the families of the victims receive adequate empathy, support and compensation.
“I join millions of Nigerians to pray that God keeps such tragedies away from our national life. I also appeal to all relevant authorities to investigate the immediate and remote causes of this mishap and take necessary steps to prevent a recurrence”, he added.
He added that the loss was not only painful to the families of the deceased but also a national tragedy, given the sacrifices made by military personnel in protecting the country.
“On behalf of my family and teeming supporters, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Nigerian Air Force and the families of the fallen heroes. May God intervene and give them strength and succour to overcome this challenging period”, he noted.
Coffie prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the deceased and for God to grant their families the strength to bear what he described as an irreparable loss.
He further urged the authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash and implement measures capable of preventing similar tragedies in the future.
