NAF Crash: Only son, NYSC-bound graduate among victims as recovery operation intensifies

The family of Ukeme David, a graduate who was preparing for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has been thrown into mourning following his death in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) 931 aircraft crash at Igbokoda, Ondo State.

Ukeme, described by his family as an intelligent young man and the only son of his parents, had travelled to Benin for his NYSC clearance and was expected to return to Lagos on Wednesday, October 7.

However, a family request reportedly prompted him to change his plans.

A family member who spoke to Vanguard anonymously said Ukeme boarded the NAF aircraft on Monday, October 5, intending to return to Lagos to look after his sister while his mother prepared to return home later in the week.

“He was a very intelligent student. He left Benin in the aircraft to come and look after his sister, when his mother was to return this weekend. He had intended to come on Wednesday, but Monday became his last day. He was an only son,” the source said.

The source also said another victim was the son of an Air Force personnel, while Flying Officer IM Adeshina was remembered as the best student in his set at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

“For Flying Officer IM Adeshina, he was the best student during his NDA,” the source said.

‘You didn’t mention you won’t come back’

The crash has also left families and loved ones devastated, with a woman mourning her partner in a viral video.

According to the woman, her partner only told her he was travelling to Abuja and did not indicate that he would never return.

“It’s Abuja you told me you were going to, you didn’t mention you won’t come back. You left me,” she said.

The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation, although the family source said there were concerns about the weather conditions in the area when the aircraft went down.

“We are suspecting weather because information in the area said the weather was not too good. But that is not our concern. Our immediate concern now is to get their corpses and those of others for burial,” the source said.

Sonar equipment deployed in search for aircraft

Recovery efforts have intensified, with an underwater survey using side-scan sonar equipment beginning at the crash location to identify the position of the submerged aircraft.

The survey is expected to give divers and technical teams a clearer understanding of the aircraft’s location and assist in planning the next stage of the recovery operation.

Authorities are also preparing to deploy a swamp buggy to support excavation efforts in the challenging terrain.

Nigerian Navy divers and NAF drone pilots are participating in the operation, deploying specialised equipment across the surrounding mangrove and forest areas.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, directed the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Department to deploy state-of-the-art sonar scanning equipment to obtain a detailed underwater picture because of the turbidity of the swamp.

The Nigerian Navy Air Arm is also continuing to support the recovery operation.

The latest development followed an assessment of the crash site by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, and the Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, NAF, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdul Suleh.

They were received at the Forward Operating Base, Igbokoda, by the Commanding Officer, Navy Captain Andy Alemongwa.

Officials of the Ondo State Government, community leaders, emergency management agencies and other stakeholders were also at the base to express their condolences and support the recovery efforts.

Representatives of Ilaje Local Government Area, the Ministries of Health and Environment, NEMA, SEMA, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, NIWA and other security agencies were among those present.

Rear Admiral Mustapha conveyed the appreciation of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the service chiefs to the Ondo State Government, local communities and emergency agencies for their assistance since the crash.

He appealed for calm and urged stakeholders to continue cooperating with the agencies leading the recovery operation.

The naval commander also appreciated Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Hi-Tech and AUC Construction companies for making mechanised equipment available.

The delegation subsequently travelled by boat to the crash location for an on-the-spot assessment and provided technical guidance on the recovery of the submerged aircraft.

Rear Admiral Mustapha later inspected the swamp buggy launching point, where he urged the technical team to step up efforts towards the timely recovery of the aircraft and its contents.

Peter Obi signs condolence register

Former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, also visited the Nigerian Air Force facility in Abuja, where he signed the condolence register for the personnel killed in the crash.

Obi described the deaths as a painful loss for Nigeria and praised members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies for their sacrifices.

“The visit gave me another opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made daily by the men and women of our Armed Forces and other security agencies in the line of duty.

“These courageous Nigerians put their lives on the line to defend our nation and protect our people. We must never take their service and sacrifice for granted,” he wrote on X.

He also said: “I extend my deepest condolences to the Nigerian Air Force and to the families, colleagues, and loved ones of those who lost their lives.”

Praying for the deceased, Obi said: “May God grant eternal rest to the departed and give their families the strength and fortitude to bear this painful loss.”

He also prayed for those still serving, saying, “May God continue to protect all those who serve our country.”

Keyamo, Air Chief seek closer civil-military aviation ties

Meanwhile, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has met with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, to strengthen cooperation between civil and military aviation authorities.

The meeting followed the NAF crash and resulted in an agreement to deepen collaboration between the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Air Force on aviation safety, airworthiness, certification, training and capacity building.

Keyamo expressed sympathy to the Air Force and described the crash as a national tragedy.

“We value the Air Force. We value the efforts of the gallant men and women of the Air Force and what they do for the country,” he said.

He said the incident highlighted the importance of closer collaboration between the civil and military aviation sectors.

“It is one country, one people. When disaster happens, it affects everybody. There were civilians in that air crash and when there’s an air crash in the civil aviation too, there can be military personnel. And so, it is important we cooperate in the area of safety,” Keyamo said.

The minister said he had facilitated communication between the NCAA leadership and the Chief of Air Staff, adding that both institutions had agreed to cooperate more closely on capacity building.

“We have decided that we will cooperate in terms of capacity building,” he said.

According to Keyamo, a joint committee comprising the NCAA and NAF would be established to coordinate efforts in airworthiness, certification, training and other aviation safety matters.

He further said Air Force personnel could participate in training programmes organised by civil aviation authorities.

“There is no reason we cannot take some names from the Air Force. We have a lot of training we go for, so there is no reason we cannot,” he said.

Keyamo also acknowledged the specialised expertise within the Air Force that could benefit civilian aviation.

“This is a kind of cross-pollination and symbiotic relationship we have decided to build for the safety of the lives of Nigerians,” he stated.

Air Marshal Aneke thanked the minister for his condolence visit and support, saying the gesture reflected the growing relationship between civil and military aviation.

He said discussions were already underway to establish a framework for personnel from both sectors to share expertise, particularly in airworthiness and certification.

“We have both agreed that we need to move the aviation industry, whether military or civil, to a higher level,” Aneke said.

The Air Chief welcomed the offer of training opportunities for Air Force personnel and said the initiative would improve capacity and safety.

He added that both sectors shared the same responsibility to protect Nigerians.

“We are serving the same government; we are protecting the same Nigerians. So we are just a blend of each other.”

The proposed collaboration is expected to improve information sharing, technical cooperation, professional training and safety standards across Nigeria’s civil and military aviation sectors.

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