PANDEF Mourns With Nigeria On Crash Of NAF ATR-42 Flight

The Board of Trustees and National Leadership of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, on behalf of the people of the South-South geopolitical zone, have received with deep shock and pain the tragic news of the crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft.

The incident occurred on Monday, October 5, 2026, in the vicinity of Igbokoda, Ondo State. Even more shocking, PANDEF noted, is the fact that none of the 27 crew members and passengers have been recovered alive so far, as the aircraft sank into deep waters in the sandy terrain.

“Although we, as a people from the South-South, are grievously affected, as several of our sons are among those listed as victims of this loss, we nonetheless convey our heartfelt condolences to all the families directly affected, as well as to the Nigerian Air Force, the Federal Government and all the people of Nigeria,” the Forum said.

PANDEF described the tragedy as more painful given that most of the deceased were young Nigerians who laid down their lives for the peace and security of the nation in the line of duty.

“There is no greater sacrifice than this, and Nigeria will always honour them individually and collectively,” it added.

Even as the country continues to observe the national days of mourning, the Forum called on all citizens to offer special prayers for the affected families and for brave men and women serving in various theatres and operational duties.

The group said the incident underscores the imperative for the Federal Government to prioritize continuous investment in combat readiness and equipment maintenance of military personnel, while also urging a thorough investigation to ascertain all circumstances that might have contributed to this and similar calamities.

“Finally, PANDEF calls on all Nigerians at all levels to unite around our government to instill peace and security across our country during this period when our nation is confronted with diverse security threats and challenges to the wellbeing of ordinary citizens,” Godknows Boladei Igali, PhD, OON, the National Chairman said.