Sowore visits Ondo NAF crash site, demands independent investigation

Activist and African Action Congress politician Omoyele Sowore has called for an independent investigation into the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, which killed all 25 people on board.

Sowore made the call after visiting the crash site on Friday and later sharing footage from the area.

He argued that personnel connected with the maintenance and procurement of military aircraft should not be solely responsible for investigating the disaster.

According to Sowore, independent aviation experts should be brought in to examine the wreckage and establish what caused the crash.

Sowore questions handling of aircraft wreckage

During his visit, Sowore raised concerns about how parts of the crashed aircraft and victims’ remains had been handled.

He argued that investigators should recover and document as much of the aircraft as possible before reaching conclusions about the cause.

Sowore suggested that reconstructing and examining the wreckage could help investigators identify evidence of mechanical failure, structural problems or other possible causes.

His comments represent his assessment of the investigation process; authorities have not established the cause of the crash.

NAF says thorough investigation will be conducted

The Nigerian Air Force has already said it will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the tragedy.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Aneke said relevant evidence would be secured, documented and examined before investigators draw conclusions.

The ATR-42 aircraft, registration NAF 931, crashed in Igbokoda on October 5 while flying from Benin City to Lagos on a routine mission.

The Air Force subsequently confirmed that 20 passengers and five crew members — 25 people in total — died in the accident.

President Bola Tinubu earlier declared three days of national mourning following the disaster.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Sowore calls for outside experts

Sowore maintained that an independent process involving experts outside the institutions responsible for maintaining or operating the aircraft would strengthen public confidence in the findings.

He also criticised what he described as treating the incident as a routine aviation accident, arguing that the deaths required greater scrutiny and accountability.

The Nigerian Air Force has not publicly accepted Sowore’s demand for an independent external investigation.