Omoyele Sowore Seeks External Inquiry into Ondo NAF Aircraft Disaster

Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), has demanded an independent investigation into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash that occurred in Igbokoda, Ondo State. He argued that those responsible for the aircraft's maintenance and procurement should not be the ones probing the incident.

Sowore conveyed his stance during a visit to the crash site on Friday, subsequently sharing a video of his visit on the social media platform X on Saturday. In the footage, he criticized the way the wreckage and the remains of the victims were handled, stressing the importance of retrieving every part of the aircraft for expert examination to determine the exact cause of the crash.

“Those who are responsible for maintenance, procurements should not be the ones investigating what happened. We should bring outsiders,” Sowore stated. He raised concerns about the handling of the crash site and debris, suggesting that the current process could hinder efforts to ascertain the truth behind the accident. “That’s not how to investigate accidents. How it is done all over the world is that every part of that aircraft must be retrieved and pinned back together by experts because if there had been a bomb blast, how would we know?” he further explained.

The activist also expressed profound sorrow over the lives lost, emphasizing that the incident should not be dismissed as a mere routine occurrence. “Something went wrong, and it’s fundamental. And we are just looking at this and saying, oh, they have visited. No, it’s not a matter of the visitors. It’s a matter of the passengers. People died,” he lamented. He highlighted that one of the victims had recently gotten married, underscoring the tragic loss of life.

In a post accompanying the video, Sowore detailed his journey from Abuja to Akure on Friday, before continuing by road to Igbokoda. There, he engaged with members of the affected communities and local leaders.

The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, bearing registration number NAF 931, crashed on October 5 in Igbokoda, which is the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area. The plane was on a routine mission, travelling from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when the incident occurred. The Air Force confirmed that all 25 individuals on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, perished in the crash. Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, the Chief of the Air Staff, has previously assured the public that the military would conduct a thorough investigation, ensuring all relevant evidence is secured, documented, and examined before any conclusions are reached regarding the accident's cause.