Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator AbdulAziz Musa Yar’Adua, have mourned the 32 people killed in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash near Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The ATR-42 aircraft crashed on Monday while on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos, killing all 25 passengers and seven crew members on board.

In a condolence message issued through his Special Adviser, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio expressed grief over the incident and commiserated with President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs, the Nigerian Air Force and the families of the victims.

“I received with grief the tragic incident near Igbokoda resulting in the loss of 32 lives — 25 passengers and seven crew members,” Akpabio said.

The Senate President described the incident as a painful moment for the country and the Nigerian Air Force, saying the sacrifices of military personnel who die in service would not be forgotten.

“A nation may mourn its fallen heroes, but it must never forget the courage with which they gave their lives in service to the Republic,” he said.

Yar’Adua, a retired military officer, also described the crash as a tragic loss for the armed forces and the affected families.

“As a retired military officer, I understand the pain and weight of this loss. These brave men and women answered the call to serve our nation with courage, dedication and honour,” he said.

He assured the military community that the Senate Committee on Army would continue to support efforts to honour fallen personnel and improve the safety and welfare of troops.