The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the military aircraft crash that claimed the lives of several officers and airmen.

Musa, in a statement on Monday, said the investigation would determine the cause of the crash and ensure that necessary safety measures are strengthened across military aviation units.

The minister described the incident as a painful loss to the Nigerian Armed Forces and the entire country.

He expressed condolences to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leadership of the Armed Forces, and the families, friends and colleagues of the military personnel who lost their lives.

Musa also extended his sympathy to the families of the civilians who were on board the aircraft.

He prayed that God would grant the deceased eternal rest and give their families and the nation the strength to bear the loss.

The development comes as President Tinubu declared three days of national mourning over the crash.

The President also directed that the Nigerian flag be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the victims.

The aircraft was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when it crashed at Igbokoda in Ondo State shortly after 9:00 a.m.

President Tinubu described the incident as a painful moment for the Armed Forces and the nation, noting that military personnel continue to risk their lives daily in the service of Nigeria.

He said the sacrifice of the fallen officers and airmen would not be forgotten.

The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued 75 persons abducted by bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state.

The victims, comprising men, women and children, were reportedly travelling in commercial buses when they were attacked and abducted at Folwaya Village, near Birnin Gwari, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

The Command’s spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, disclosed in a statement that the rescue operation followed timely information received from the Birnin Gwari branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

According to him, the armed kidnappers, who were reportedly carrying AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons, took the victims into a forest and concealed them inside a cave in a mountainous area.

Hassan said operatives from the Birnin Gwari Area Command were immediately deployed to the location following the report.

He explained that the abductors fled into the forest after sighting the heavily armed security operatives, abandoning the captives, who were subsequently rescued unharmed.

The Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State, Rabiu Muhammad, commended the NURTW for providing the timely intelligence that facilitated the operation.

He also praised the Birnin Gwari Area Commander and his personnel for their swift and professional response.

The Commissioner, however, urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies, warning against taking the law into their own hands, as such actions could endanger innocent lives.