A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashes in Igbokoda, Ondo State, killing 25 people, prompting demands from lawmakers for a full investigation and checks on aircraft condition and maintenance funding. Outlets report that air traffic controllers lose contact with the plane around 9:13 a.m. on Oct. 5 during a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos, after which search-and-rescue teams locate wreckage.
The House of Representatives and Senate both push for scrutiny of safety and accountability. The House calls for an independent probe and an audit of military aircraft, while the Senate directs committees to examine maintenance budgets and to assess the serviceability and airworthiness of aircraft in presidential and military fleets. Sources say the Senate also seeks disclosure of NAF maintenance budgetary provisions to confirm whether funding was sufficient. Multiple reports state the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau and the Nigerian Air Force should conduct transparent investigations and make findings public, with lawmakers also planning visits to the crash site.
