## Demanding Answers: Sowore Calls for Independent Probe Into Fatal NAF 931 Plane Crash

Following the devastating crash of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft (**NAF 931**) in Igbokoda, Ondo State, public scrutiny over the tragedy is intensifying. Omoyele Sowore has stepped forward to demand an independent, transparent investigation into the disaster, rejecting the handling of the initial site response.

The tragic incident, which occurred on **October 5**, claimed the lives of all **25 people on board** (five crew members and 20 passengers) during a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos.

### Key Concerns Raised by Sowore

During a visit to the crash site on Friday, Sowore highlighted critical flaws in how aviation disasters are traditionally handled in the country. His main arguments include:

 * **Conflict of Interest:** Sowore strongly asserted that the authorities and personnel responsible for aircraft maintenance and procurement must be barred from leading the investigation.

 * **Global Best Practices:** Pointing to international aviation standards, he emphasized that every single fragment of the wreckage must be recovered and meticulously pieced back together by independent experts.

 * **Leaving No Stone Unturned:** He raised pressing questions about potential structural or security failures, noting that standard procedures are necessary to rule out catastrophic scenarios like a bomb blast.

 * **Justice for the Victims:** Expressing deep outrage, he stressed that the loss of 25 lives must not be swept under the rug as a routine military occurrence.

### Moving Beyond "Routine" Visits

In his statement shared via social media, Sowore criticized the superficial nature of official site visits by dignitaries, calling instead for rigorous, technical accountability.

> "Something went wrong, and it’s fundamental. And we are just looking at this and saying, oh, they have visited. No, it’s not a matter of the visitors. It’s a matter of the passengers. People died."

> 

As families mourn and the nation demands closure, the pressure is mounting on the federal government and military authorities to hand over the investigation to neutral, external aviation experts to ensure absolute transparency.

What are your thoughts on how aviation accidents are investigated in Nigeria? Let us know in the comments below.