African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has called for an independent investigation into the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, insisting that personnel involved in aircraft maintenance and procurement should not be responsible for investigating the incident.
Sowore made the call during a visit to the crash site on Friday, later sharing a video of the visit on his X account on Saturday.
In the footage, the activist questioned the handling of the wreckage and victims’ remains, arguing that a thorough investigation would require the recovery and examination of all relevant parts of the aircraft by independent experts.
“Those who are responsible for maintenance, procurements should not be the ones investigating what happened. We should bring outsiders,” he said.
He also questioned whether the handling of the crash site could affect efforts to determine what caused the aircraft to go down, stressing the importance of preserving physical evidence.
“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?” Sowore said.
The activist expressed anger over the loss of lives, arguing that attention should focus on the victims and the circumstances surrounding their deaths rather than official visits to the scene.
“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 said.
Sowore also disclosed that one of the victims had recently married, lamenting the personal tragedies behind the crash.
In a separate post accompanying the video, he said he travelled from Abuja to Akure on Friday before continuing by road to Igbokoda. He added that he met and marched alongside members of affected communities and grassroots leaders.
The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, on October 5. The aircraft was reportedly undertaking a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when the incident occurred.
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that all 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, died in the crash.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has said the military would conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. He also stated that relevant evidence would be secured, documented and examined before conclusions were reached about the cause of the crash.
Sowore’s intervention has brought renewed attention to the investigation, particularly the need to preserve evidence and establish the circumstances that led to the deaths of the 25 people on board.
The cause of the crash has not been established in the information provided, and the demand for an independent inquiry remains Sowore’s position rather than a finding of the ongoing investigation.
How did this story make you feel?
Join the conversation
Share a thoughtful response. Submissions may be reviewed before appearing.
