It was supposed to be a birthday celebration. It turned into a death announcement.
For Professor Emily Akintoye, October 6 was meant to be joy. Her son, Flight Lieutenant M. Akinloye, had just stopped by her home in Benin City to wish her happy birthday before flying to Lagos.
Hours later, he was dead.
Last Birthday Greeting
Akinloye was among the 25 personnel killed when NAF ATR-42 aircraft, NAF931, crashed into the swampy creeks of Igbokoda, Ilaje, Ondo State on Monday.
Family sources said Akinloye was returning from a programme and detoured to see his mother.
“He rushed to his mother’s house, wished her a happy birthday and told her they were on their way to Lagos,” a source said.
“Everybody is devastated. His mother is in distress. It is a bad day to celebrate her birthday. This is something that would be with her for life, so that whenever it is her birthday, she will remember the tragic death of her son.”
Commissioned 9 Days Ago, Killed On Duty
The tragedy is crueller for Flying Officer I.M Adeshina.
He was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force only on September 26 as Best Graduating Cadet of Branch Commission Course 3. Nine days in uniform, his career ended in flames.
Flight Lieutenant I.S. Bako, one of the co-pilots, also died barely weeks after his wedding.
The Air Force has released 25 names, five crew and 20 passengers, after initially announcing 32 on board.
Fire In The Sky
Prophet Igbekele Edema, whose church sits metres from the crash site, said the aircraft was already on fire before it fell.
ALSO READ: CRASH: Rescue teams battle deadly Igbokoda creeks to recover bodies
“We all saw it from the church windows. We were in a programme then and everyone was afraid. The captain appeared to be trying to bring it down inside the town and it would cause bigger disaster, but he eventually went into the river,” he said.
“It was raining, the cloud covered the plane, and we saw the flames.”
Rescue Battle In Mangroves
Police Commissioner Felix Ohagwu said no survivor has been found. Access remains hellish through creeks and mangroves.
Three swamp buggies have been deployed by NEMA as Navy, Army, Air Force, NSCDC and Amotekun battle to recover wreckage 500 metres east of Naval Base.
President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning as tributes pour from CDS Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Senate President Akpabio, NGF and US Mission.
