President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning following the death of 32 Nigerian Air Force personnel in a military aircraft crash in Ondo State.

The President also directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the fallen personnel, describing the tragedy as a painful moment for the Armed Forces and the nation.

The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed on Monday near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State while on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos. The aircraft had 25 passengers and seven crew members on board.

In a condolence message, President Tinubu acknowledged the risks undertaken daily by members of the Armed Forces in the course of securing the country.

“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” the President said.

Beyond the loss of military personnel, the President drew attention to the families left behind, noting that every uniform represents a spouse, child, parent, sibling or other loved one waiting for the service member to return home.

He said the nation mourns with the affected families and prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died.

Tinubu also ordered the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, with the objective of establishing its cause and preventing a recurrence.

“The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences,” he said.

The President’s directive comes as the authorities begin the difficult process of accounting for the circumstances surrounding one of Nigeria’s most serious military aviation accidents in recent years. Reuters reported that air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft shortly before the crash, after which search and rescue teams were deployed to locate the wreckage.

Tinubu commended the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate search and rescue operation following the accident, as well as first responders and the Ondo State Government for their response at the crash site.

The Air Force is expected to release the names of the deceased personnel after their families have been contacted.

The tragedy has once again brought into sharp focus the risks faced by military personnel who operate in demanding environments in the service of the country. While the immediate priority remains mourning the dead and supporting their families, the investigation will be crucial in establishing what happened and determining whether any operational, technical or other factors contributed to the crash.

For the families of those who died, however, the investigation cannot erase the loss. Nigeria has lost men and women who were serving the country. For the next three days, the nation will mourn them. And when the flags rise again, the questions surrounding their final flight must not be forgotten.