A military aircraft carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members has crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was travelling from Benin to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13am on Monday.
According to a statement by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, all attempts to establish radio contact with the aircraft were unsuccessful.
The aircraft was later confirmed to have crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
Its wreckage has been located, while search and rescue operations are ongoing.
Preliminary information indicates that 32 people were on board, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members.
Keyamo said the regulation and control of military aircraft fall outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
The minister said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s cooperation and assistance with the ongoing search and rescue operation.
Further information on the crash is expected to be released as the rescue operation continues.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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