A sister lost her Air Force officer sibling. Another family lost a brother who was travelling for a wedding. More than a week after the tragedy, relatives are still demanding answers and the recovery of their loved ones.

The pain of losing a loved one is difficult enough. But for families of the 25 people who died in the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State, the grief has been compounded by uncertainty over the investigation and the recovery of victims’ remains.

More than a week after the October 5 crash, relatives say they are still waiting for clear information about what caused the disaster and how the recovery operation is progressing.

The aircraft was travelling from Benin City to Lagos when it crashed in a remote, swampy area near Igbokoda, Ondo State. Those on board included 19 military personnel and six civilians, according to a Reuters report published on October 16.

President Bola Tinubu has ordered an investigation, but families say communication and support have not met their expectations.

She discovered her sister was among the victims

For Victor Anii, the tragedy became painfully personal when he learnt that his older sister, Esther Anii, a sergeant in the Nigerian Air Force, had died in the crash.

On the morning of October 5, Esther had messaged her brother asking him to send money for a bus journey from Benin City to Lagos.

She reportedly told him that the group had travelled from Abuja and stopped in Benin City because of a problem with the aircraft. Tired of waiting, she was considering continuing the journey by road.

Hours later, news emerged that an Air Force aircraft travelling between Benin City and Lagos had crashed.

The family initially struggled to reach Esther. They only learnt that she was among those killed after the Air Force released the passenger list the following day.

For a family that had been communicating with a loved one just hours earlier, the news brought a devastating end to any hope of hearing from her again.

A family still waiting for answers

Anii has criticised what he considers inadequate communication with bereaved families.

He told Reuters that an Air Force commander visited his parents’ home carrying two envelopes, one containing a condolence letter. The family suspected the second contained money and did not open it.

His response reflected the depth of their loss: financial assistance cannot replace a loved one or answer the questions surrounding her death.

Another family is facing a similar uncertainty.

Damilola Folorunsho said her 36-year-old brother, Sunday Folorunsho, was among the six civilians on the aircraft. She told Reuters that her family had not received direct communication about the recovery operation.

Her mother has been staying with her since the incident as the family struggles to cope with the loss.

They want to know what happened and whether their loved one’s remains have been recovered.

What caused the crash?

The Nigerian Air Force has said the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when it lost radar contact and crashed.

The cause of the accident has not yet been established publicly.

The tragedy has renewed questions about military aviation safety, aircraft maintenance and the communication provided to families following fatal accidents.

A thorough investigation will be essential to establish what happened and identify any measures needed to prevent similar tragedies.

Families deserve answers, dignity and support

For those who lost loved ones, the tragedy is not simply a headline or a statistic.

Each of the 25 victims had a family, relationships, responsibilities and plans for the future. Their deaths have left relatives facing an uncertain and painful reality.

The families are seeking more than expressions of sympathy. They want transparent information, meaningful support and answers about the circumstances surrounding the crash.

As recovery and investigative efforts continue, the authorities must ensure that affected families are treated with compassion and kept informed.

The central question remains: what caused the aircraft to crash, and what can be done to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again?

Utelnova will continue to follow verified developments in the investigation and the recovery operation.