The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed shock and grief as an aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) crashed on Monday, killing the 25 persons on board.
Speaker Abbas described the air mishap as “a big blow to the Armed Forces of Nigeria at a critical time when the country is decimating terrorists, bandits and other criminals within the territory.”
The Nigerian Air Force had earlier on Tuesday confirmed the death of all 25 people—five crew members and 20 passengers—on board a NAF ATR-42 aircraft with registration number NAF 931. The ill-fated aircraft, which crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State, was said to be on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.
The Speaker, in a condolence message issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, commiserated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, saying it was a huge loss to the President and all citizens of the country.
Speaker Abbas also commiserated with the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Service Chiefs, while extending his condolences to the respective families of the victims.
While praying for the repose of the victims’ souls, the Speaker urged men of the Nigerian Armed Forces not to be discouraged by the “setback” but to remain “patriotically committed and undaunted” as they tackle crimes and criminals.