The Federal Government has confirmed that 32 people were on board a military aircraft that crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday morning.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this in a statement, saying the aircraft had 25 passengers and seven crew members on board.

According to Keyamo, the aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, was travelling from Benin to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13 a.m.

He said attempts to establish communication with the aircraft proved unsuccessful before authorities received confirmation that it had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.

“The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing,” Keyamo said.

He added that the casualty figure had yet to be established as rescue teams continued efforts at the crash site.

Keyamo explained that although military aviation operations fall outside the direct control of the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, the ministry was ready to support the rescue operation.

“Whilst the control and regulation of military aircraft are completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and Civil Aviation Authority, I have just spoken to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged our total cooperation and assistance in the search and rescue efforts ongoing,” he said.

The minister assured Nigerians that further details on the incident would be released as they become available.

The Nigerian Air Force had earlier confirmed the crash, stating that the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.