WorldStage— Former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has described the tragic Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash in Ondo State as heartbreaking.
In a formal statement issued on Tuesday by his media office in Abuja, Atiku expressed deep sorrow over the massive loss, saying the scale and circumstances of the tragedy are heartbreaking.
The disaster, which occurred on Monday, claimed the lives of 25 individuals, including dedicated airmen, soldiers, and members of their families.
The ill-fated ATR-42 military transport aircraft, carrying personnel and their relatives, went down in the Igbokoda axis of Ilaje Local Government Area while en route from Benin City to Lagos.
Official updates confirmed that all individuals on board perished in the wreckage.
“The scale and circumstances of this tragedy are heartbreaking,” Atiku stated via his official channels.
He noted that the disaster was uniquely devastating because it cut short the lives of innocent family members, including young children who were reportedly returning to school.
“Lives of service, promise, and innocence were extinguished in one devastating moment,” he added, lamenting the vacuum left by the deceased patriots.
The opposition leader extended his profound condolences to the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the families of the victims.
Acknowledging the irreplaceable nature of the loss, Atiku remarked that no words could adequately comfort parents, children, and spouses suddenly deprived of their loved ones.
He further prayed that the Almighty God would grant eternal rest to the departed souls and give the nation the fortitude to bear the painful incident.
Beyond mourning, the former Vice-President voiced strong expectations regarding the aftermath of the disaster, urging military authorities to conduct a transparent and exhaustive investigation into the technical and operational causes of the crash.
Atiku emphasized that establishing the definitive cause of the accident is imperative to strengthening aviation safety protocols within the Nigerian military and preventing similar heartbreaks in the future.
The tragedy has thrown the entire West African nation into mourning, prompting the federal government to order separate investigations as flags fly at half-mast to honor the fallen heroes and their families.
