Residents of a remote coastal fishing community in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, have recounted the terrifying moments surrounding the crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft that claimed the lives of all 25 people on board.

The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 twin-engine turboprop aircraft crashed into a swampy area near a naval base on Monday, October 5, after reportedly departing Benin City for Lagos on a routine flight.

Locals who witnessed the incident said the aircraft was already engulfed in flames when it passed overhead before plunging into the swamp.

A villager and volunteer rescuer, Akinte Omoteremi Toluwalase, told AFP that residents were sitting outside when they suddenly heard a deafening sound.

“We were sitting outside…and we saw the plane overhead making a loud sound. We were scared. It was already engulfed in flames. And we saw it crash,” he said.

According to him, residents immediately mobilised and headed towards the crash site in boats in an attempt to assist possible survivors.

“Immediately we rushed down there in boats.

But by the time we got there, the plane had sunk into the swamp. We tried our best to see if we could rescue the people, to no avail,” Toluwalase said.

He added that residents saw debris and human remains floating in the water as they searched the area.

“We saw human body parts and scraps from the plane floating in the water,” he said.

No survivors recorded
The Nigerian Air Force later confirmed that there were no survivors from the crash.

Although the initial death toll was given as 32, authorities subsequently revised the figure to 25 people.

Some civilians were reportedly among those travelling on the aircraft.

Recovery operations continued on Tuesday, with emergency personnel and local volunteers working in the difficult swampy terrain to locate and recover the victims and wreckage.

Another resident, Owoyemi Oluwadamilare, said the incident was unlike anything he had previously witnessed.

“I have seen boat accidents on the creeks before, but I have never witnessed a plane crash before,” he said, adding that his previous experience of plane crashes had been through films.

Felisia Michel, another resident involved in the rescue effort, said the search teams had continued working without rest.

“The rescue team have not rested. They have been going about it since yesterday without rest to ensure they can bring the people in the plane out,” she said.

Investigation begins
Authorities have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The accident occurred around Igbokoda, a coastal town in Ilaje, an oil-producing area of Ondo State characterised by creeks, waterways and swampy terrain.

The difficult location of the crash has complicated recovery efforts, with local residents using boats to access parts of the site.

The incident is among Nigeria’s deadliest military aviation accidents in recent years.

In May 2021, former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 other military personnel were killed when a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Kaduna airport in bad weather.

In August 2015, seven people were killed when a military aircraft crashed into a house in northern Nigeria.

The United States Embassy in Nigeria also expressed condolences following the latest tragedy, saying it stood with Nigerians and remained committed to the country’s security partnership.

As recovery operations continue, attention is expected to turn to the investigation into what caused the aircraft to crash and whether any technical, operational or environmental factors contributed to the tragedy.

The Oyo State Government has declared Monday, October 5, 2026, a work-free day for all teachers in the state to commemorate this year’s World Teachers’ Day.

The declaration was contained in a circular issued on Sunday by the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Prof. Musibau Babatunde.

In a statement issued in Ibadan, the state capital, the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, said the decision was part of the government’s commitment to the welfare and professional development of teachers.

According to the statement, the declaration was aimed at recognising the contributions of teachers to the development of the state’s education sector and human capital.

“The declaration reflects the administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare, dignity and professional development of teachers, who remain the backbone of the state’s educational system and key drivers of human capital development in Oyo,” the statement said.

The government explained that the work-free day would enable teachers across the state to participate fully in activities organised to mark World Teachers’ Day.

It added that the occasion would also provide teachers with an opportunity to reflect on developments and progress in the education sector, as well as strengthen unity among members of the teaching profession.

The Oyo State Government congratulated teachers on the occasion and commended them for their dedication to educating and shaping the future of children and young people across the state.

The government further reaffirmed its commitment to implementing policies and programmes aimed at improving teaching and learning, while enhancing the welfare and working conditions of teachers.

The declaration in Oyo comes as other states have also announced similar measures to honour teachers on World Teachers’ Day.

The Kwara and Ekiti State Governments have also declared Monday, October 5, 2026, a work-free day for teachers in their respective states to enable them to participate in activities marking the celebration.

World Teachers’ Day is observed annually to recognise the vital role teachers play in education and societal development.

The Northern Senators Forum has called for an immediate military offensive to dislodge insurgents operating along the Kopre-Sambisa corridor in Adamawa State following attacks on two military battalions that left soldiers and civilians dead.

The forum also urged the Federal Government and Defence Headquarters to urgently reinforce troops deployed to the affected areas to prevent further attacks, killings and displacement of residents.

Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum and Senator representing Katsina Central, Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, made the call in a statement he personally signed and issued on Sunday.

According to Yar’Adua, insurgents attacked the 226 Battalion in Garkida and the 232 Battalion in Garaha on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

He said the attacks affected several communities across Hong and Gombi Local Government Areas, describing the incidents as a serious security threat to Adamawa State, the northern region and Nigeria as a whole.

The affected communities listed by the senator include Garaha, Dabna, Bangna, Mubang, Zah, Bitirhuya, Kwapre, Mayo Ladde, Gaya-Dlang, Garkida, Boima and Guyaku.

Yar’Adua expressed condolences to the families of soldiers, security personnel and civilians who lost their lives in the attacks.

He said the senators were particularly concerned by reports of killings, abductions of women and children, destruction of property, burning of places of worship and the displacement of hundreds of families from their communities.

“We are deeply pained by the reports of killings, abductions of women and children, burning of places of worship, destruction of properties, and the tragic displacement of hundreds of families who were forced to flee their ancestral homes on the eve of our nation’s 66th Independence anniversary,” he said.

The Northern Senators Forum called on the Federal Government and Defence Headquarters to strengthen the military presence in the Kopre-Sambisa corridor and deploy what it described as a unified and proactive strategy to dislodge the insurgents.

“We call on the Federal Government and Defence Headquarters to urgently reinforce security presence in the Kopre-Sambisa corridor and adopt a unified, proactive strategy to flush out these criminal enclaves,” Yar’Adua said.

The senator also called for increased protection of vulnerable communities in Hong and Gombi local government areas to prevent further displacement and restore residents’ confidence in returning to their homes.

Beyond military intervention, the forum urged the National Emergency Management Agency and the North East Development Commission to provide urgent relief materials and other assistance to residents displaced by the attacks.

The senators said displaced families should not be left without support as security agencies work to restore stability to the affected communities.

Yar’Adua assured residents of Adamawa that the Northern Senators Forum would continue to stand with them and advocate stronger measures to protect lives and property.

“The Northern Senators Forum stands in solidarity with the people of Adamawa State. By our collective efforts, you will not be abandoned to terrorists. We condemn in the strongest terms these cowardly acts,” he said.

The latest call adds to growing demands for stronger security measures in communities affected by insurgent attacks in the North-East, particularly areas where residents continue to face the risk of displacement and disruption of economic and social activities.