A Nigerian Air Force aircraft has crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, killing all 32 people on board, according to reports confirmed by Nigerian authorities.

The aircraft, an ATR-42, was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members when it crashed near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State.

The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City in Edo State to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13 a.m. on Monday.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had initially announced that the aircraft had disappeared from radar and that its wreckage had been located near the Naval Base in Igbokoda. Search-and-rescue operations were subsequently launched.

The Nigerian Air Force identified the aircraft as an ATR-42 and said the flight was part of a routine mission. The exact cause of the crash has not yet been established, and authorities have ordered an investigation.

Reports from the crash site indicated that emergency responders and security personnel searched the area, but no survivors were found.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed condolences to the families of the victims and the Nigerian Air Force. He directed the Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.

The President also declared three days of national mourning for the Air Force personnel who died in the incident and directed that national flags be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect.

The Nigerian government and relevant agencies are expected to provide further information as the investigation continues, including details about the victims and the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Utelnova will continue to monitor the situation and provide verified updates as they emerge.