🔻A Nigerian military plane flying from Benin City toward Lagos crashed on Monday in the southwestern state of Ondo, killing 25 people on board and seven crew members.

Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s president, extended his condolences to the families of the victims, confirming the report.

Festus Keyamo, the country’s aviation minister, said the ATR-42 aircraft belonging to the air force was carrying out routine operations from Benin City to Lagos when, at 07:13 local time on Monday, it lost contact with the air traffic control tower.

The incident is considered one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Nigeria in recent years.

The wreckage was later found near the coastal city of Igbokoda, and search and rescue teams were dispatched to the area.