Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has publicly responded to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter crash in Ondo State that killed 25 people, describing the incident as heartbreaking and extending condolences to the affected families and institutions.
The crash occurred in the early hours of Monday, October 5, 2026, when a helicopter plunged into a river in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. According to Legit.ng, Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), issued a statement via his X handle @atiku on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Atiku Reacts to NAF Helicopter Crash in Ondo
In his statement, Atiku said he was deeply saddened by the scale of the tragedy. He noted that the crash claimed the lives of airmen, soldiers, and members of their families. He also highlighted that the loss of life cut across generations and professions, from those in active service to their relatives.
“The scale and circumstances of this tragedy are heartbreaking. Among those who lost their lives were airmen, soldiers and members of their families. Lives of service, promise and innocence were extinguished in one devastating moment,” Atiku said.
Atiku Sends Condolences to Bereaved Families
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate acknowledged that no words could bring comfort to those left behind, whether parents who lost children, children who lost parents, or spouses who lost partners without warning. He extended his condolences to the Nigerian Air Force and the wider Armed Forces of Nigeria, as well as the federal government and the people of Ondo State.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Nigerian Air Force and the Armed Forces of Nigeria, as well as the governments and people of Nigeria and Ondo State,” Atiku said. He closed his statement with a prayer for the souls of those who died and for strength for their families and the Nigerian Air Force as an institution.
“May Almighty God grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed, comfort their grieving families and give the Nigerian Air Force and our nation the strength to bear this painful loss,” he added.
NAF Pilot Dies in Ondo Crash Two Weeks After Wedding
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that Squadron Leader Ahamefule Man-Ugwueje, a co-pilot on NAF 931, had married Flight Lieutenant Damilola Adekunle in Abuja on September 19, 2026. The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, killing all 25 people on board during a routine Benin-to-Lagos mission. Wedding vendors shared videos and photos from Man-Ugwueje's ceremony just days before the Air Force confirmed his death in the crash.
