The mourning period follows the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft on Monday, October 5, which killed all 25 people on board, according to the Air Force.
President Tinubu directed that the Nigerian national flag be flown at half-mast across the country throughout the three-day mourning period, as a mark of respect for the victims.
The President also expressed condolences to the families, colleagues and loved ones of those who died in the crash, describing their deaths as a painful loss to the nation and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Tinubu further directed the Nigerian Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash and determine what caused the aircraft to go down.
The aircraft was travelling from Benin City to Lagos when it crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State. Initial reports gave a higher number of people on board, but the Nigerian Air Force later confirmed that the final manifest contained 20 passengers and five crew members.
Authorities have not yet established the cause of the accident. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight records, operational circumstances and other relevant evidence as part of the inquiry.
The President's declaration of national mourning is therefore both a tribute to the victims and a formal expression of the Federal Government's response to one of the Nigerian Air Force's major recent aviation tragedies.
Hajara Musa Abdurrahman
A passionate reporter with an interest in covering stories that affect communities and society. She is committed to gathering accurate information, conducting interviews, and reporting news in a clear, balanced, and responsible manner.
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