Ondo crash: NAF guarantees pay for victims’ kin until death benefits clear

The Nigerian Air Force has assured families of personnel who died in the October 5, 2026, aircraft crash at Igbokoda, Ondo State, that the salaries of the deceased will continue until their death benefits are fully paid to their next of kin.

In a post on its X handle, the Director of Public Relations and Information Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force,  Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the assurance was given on Wednesday during an engagement with the bereaved families as part of efforts to address their concerns, provide welfare support and update them on the ongoing recovery operation and investigation into the accident involving the NAF 931 ATR 42-500 aircraft.

Representing the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, conveyed the service’s condolences to the families and reaffirmed its commitment to their welfare.

“The Chief of the Air Staff had directed that the salaries of the deceased personnel should continue until their death benefits were fully paid to their next of kin,” he said.

The measure, according to the Air Force, is intended to provide financial stability for dependants while the applicable benefits are being processed.

“The Nigerian Air Force stands with you, and our thoughts and prayers remain with every family affected by this tragedy,” Gabkwet said.

He emphasised that the service’s responsibility extended beyond the immediate response to the accident, assuring the families of continued support throughout the recovery and administrative processes.

The engagement also provided an opportunity for the Air Force to brief the families on the ongoing recovery operation and investigation into the crash.

Gabkwet explained that the swampy, waterlogged terrain and difficult access to the crash site had posed significant technical and logistical challenges, requiring dewatering, engineering support and site stabilisation.

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He assured the families that the service would sustain recovery efforts in collaboration with relevant agencies and support a thorough investigation into the accident.

The Air Force representative stressed that the service would not speculate on the cause of the crash until the available evidence had been properly examined.

In a bid to address the emotional and psychological impact of the tragedy, the NAF facilitated engagements between the bereaved families and its religious leaders, including Christian chaplains and Muslim imams, to provide spiritual guidance, prayers and pastoral support.

A consultant psychologist, Professor Ehize Odigie-Okpataku, also provided psychological assistance through individual interactions and counselling sessions.

The families were given the opportunity to express their concerns and seek clarification on the accident, recovery efforts and welfare arrangements.

Reaffirming the service’s commitment to accountability and sustained engagement, the Chief of the Air Staff said the concerns of the families and the dignity of the deceased personnel would remain central to the Air Force’s response.

“Your grief matters, your questions matter, and the dignity of your loved ones will remain central to our response to this tragedy,” the CAS said.

The service further pledged to maintain open communication with the families and provide guidance on welfare and administrative matters through designated liaison channels, including the Office of the Directorate of Veterans Affairs.

The Air Force said it remained committed to supporting the bereaved families, sustaining recovery operations and facilitating a credible investigation into the accident while ensuring that the deceased personnel were honoured with dignity and compassion.