Bayelsa Mourns Four Indigenes Killed in NAF Plane Crash in Ondo

The Bayelsa State Government has expressed deep sorrow over the death of four indigenes of the state who were among the Nigerian Air Force personnel and passengers killed in the aircraft crash that occurred in Ondo State.

The tragedy, which happened on Monday, October 5, 2026, involved a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, identified as NAF 931, which crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State while reportedly on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos. The Nigerian Air Force later confirmed that all 25 people aboard the aircraft died in the crash.

The deaths have triggered mourning across several states because those on board came from different parts of the country and included military personnel who were carrying out official duties.

For Bayelsa, however, the tragedy has taken on a deeply personal dimension following the identification of four of its citizens among the victims.

The four Bayelsa indigenes were identified as Flight Lieutenant Tarila Lazarus, from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area; Sergeant Izibenikien Samuel, from Yenagoa; Sergeant Ebimobowei Charles Alafuka, from Ekeremor; and Godstime Tarabina, from Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.

The Bayelsa State Executive Council observed a minute of silence in honour of the four victims during its meeting at the Government House in Yenagoa on Wednesday.

Governor Douye Diri, who presided over the 198th meeting of the State Executive Council, expressed grief over the deaths and described the incident as a painful loss to the state and the families of those who died.

The governor had earlier extended condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of the Air Staff and the families of the victims before the Nigerian Air Force released the names of those who were on board the aircraft.

The identification of the victims brought a human face to what had initially been reported simply as a devastating military aircraft accident. For the families involved, the tragedy was not just the loss of military personnel in an aviation accident; it was the sudden loss of fathers, sons, relatives, colleagues and loved ones who had left home to perform their duties.

Flight Lieutenant Tarila Lazarus, one of the Bayelsa victims, hailed from Southern Ijaw, while Sergeant Izibenikien Samuel was from Yenagoa. Sergeant Ebimobowei Charles Alafuka was an indigene of Ekeremor, and Godstime Tarabina came from Kolokuma/Opokuma.

Their deaths have therefore touched communities across different parts of Bayelsa State, with residents and relatives mourning the loss of people who represented their communities while serving the nation.

The Nigerian Air Force said the aircraft had five crew members and 20 passengers on board. It crashed in the Igbokoda area during the routine flight, with the wreckage located in a difficult swampy environment. Search-and-rescue operations were activated immediately, although no survivors were found.

The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.

President Bola Tinubu ordered a thorough investigation into the incident shortly after the crash, directing the Nigerian Air Force to determine what caused the aircraft to go down and identify measures that could help prevent similar accidents in the future. The President also expressed condolences to the families of those who died and described the loss as a painful moment for the country’s Armed Forces.

The crash occurred near a naval base in Igbokoda, an area where recovery efforts have faced difficult terrain. Reports indicate that search teams have been working to locate and recover parts of the aircraft, with specialised equipment, divers, drones and sonar technology being deployed as efforts continue.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa also visited the crash site and said the pilot appeared to have manoeuvred the aircraft away from Igbokoda community before the crash. According to the governor, such action may have prevented the aircraft from coming down directly on populated areas and potentially causing additional casualties.

The crash has raised renewed questions about the safety of military aviation operations in Nigeria, particularly because the aircraft was conducting an official mission when the accident occurred.

Military aviation involves inherent risks, especially when aircraft are deployed for operational duties. Nevertheless, every fatal accident places renewed attention on aircraft maintenance, operational procedures, crew safety, weather conditions, flight planning and other factors that investigators must examine before determining what went wrong.

The Nigerian Air Force has not publicly assigned a cause to the accident, and it would therefore be premature to draw conclusions before the investigation is completed.

For Bayelsa, the immediate concern remains the families left behind.

Governor Diri’s decision to lead the state government’s mourning reflects the wider grief generated by the deaths. The four victims were not merely names on an official casualty list; they were members of Bayelsa communities whose sudden deaths have created an enormous sense of loss among relatives, friends and neighbours.

The state government has also called on Bayelsans to maintain the spirit of unity and solidarity that has characterised the state’s response to the tragedy.

The mourning comes at a time when Bayelsa had recently been marking its 30th anniversary, with the state government noting the importance of unity and collective identity among its people. The governor used the Executive Council meeting to appreciate residents for their participation in the anniversary activities while also acknowledging the pain caused by the deaths of the four indigenes.

Across Nigeria, the crash has similarly generated condolences from political leaders, government officials, military authorities and ordinary citizens.

The Nigerian Air Force has mourned the 25 people who died, while the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, expressed condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those killed. The Air Force described the incident as a deeply painful moment for the service and the country.

The tragedy has also prompted broader discussions about the risks undertaken by members of the Armed Forces in the course of their duties.

Military personnel routinely operate aircraft, vehicles and other equipment under demanding conditions as part of Nigeria’s security operations. When accidents occur, the consequences can be devastating, not only for the service but also for families who depend on those personnel.

For the four Bayelsa families affected by Monday’s crash, the days ahead will be particularly difficult as they come to terms with their loss.

The identities of Tarila Lazarus, Izibenikien Samuel, Ebimobowei Charles Alafuka and Godstime Tarabina have now become part of the official record of one of the country’s most painful recent military aviation tragedies.

Their deaths have also brought grief to four different local government areas in Bayelsa, linking communities in Southern Ijaw, Yenagoa, Ekeremor and Kolokuma/Opokuma in mourning.

As investigations continue, attention will remain on the circumstances that led to the crash and the steps that can be taken to strengthen aviation safety within the Nigerian Air Force.

For now, however, the emphasis remains on remembrance.Bayelsa has lost four of its own, and the state government has joined their families, colleagues and the Nigerian Air Force in mourning those who died while serving the country.

The tragedy is a painful reminder that behind every official casualty figure are individual lives, families and communities forever changed by the loss.