HURIWA: Dismisses Tinubu NAF Crash Probe as 'Gimmicks'

• The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has rejected President Bola Tinubu's order to investigate the NAF 931 crash in Ondo State, which killed 25 people.
• HURIWA views the presidential inquiry as a public relations tactic, citing a history of non-transparent military accident investigations and a lack of public disclosure of findings.
• Between 2015 and 2023, Nigeria experienced 14 military air crashes, resulting in 15 lost aircraft and at least 33 military personnel fatalities, with causes often undisclosed.
• The group highlighted numerous past incidents, including the 2021 crash that killed the Chief of Army Staff, to underscore a pattern of frequent accidents without concrete preventative action or public accountability.

HURIWA characterized the presidential inquiry as little more than "mere media gimmicks" designed to create an illusion of governmental concern following the tragic event.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), a prominent civil rights advocacy group, has voiced strong skepticism regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's directive for an investigation into the recent crash of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) 931 in Igbokoda, Ondo State. This incident tragically claimed the lives of 25 Nigerians, including several schoolchildren, prompting President Tinubu to declare three days of national mourning alongside his order for a probe.

HURIWA characterized the presidential inquiry as little more than "mere media gimmicks" designed to create an illusion of governmental concern following the tragic event. The group's criticism of President Bola Tinubu's NAF probe stems from a deep-seated distrust, fueled by a consistent pattern of non-disclosure regarding findings from previous military accident investigations. They argue that such directives often fail to lead to transparent outcomes or accountability.

The advocacy group highlighted that the repeated failure to make past investigation reports public, coupled with the perceived inaction of the Nigerian armed forces' leadership to implement effective measures preventing continuous military aircraft accidents, demonstrates a cynical approach. HURIWA believes the government is exploiting the public's gullibility with what it views as an empty directive, unlikely to yield any concrete results, much like numerous predecessors.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria's criticism presidential inquiry is rooted in a documented history of military aircraft accidents in Nigeria where transparency has been notably absent. HURIWA questioned why no substantive actions have been taken to curb the frequent occurrence of these incidents. The group pointed out that between 2015 and 2023, during the administration of then-President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria experienced a total of 14 military air crashes, resulting in the loss of 15 aircraft.

These crashes, according to HURIWA, led to the deaths of no fewer than 33 military personnel, with the whereabouts of two additional personnel remaining unknown. Crucially, the causes of these numerous incidents were never publicly disclosed, despite assurances from both the Nigerian Air Force and the federal government. This consistent lack of public accountability forms the bedrock of HURIWA's current dismissal of Tinubu's NAF crash probe.

The period between 2015 and 2023 saw a disturbing frequency of Nigeria military aircraft accidents. In February 2023, the Air Force narrowly avoided another crash when one of its jets lost a tire mid-air, necessitating an emergency belly landing at Lagos Airport. More tragically, between February 22, 2021, and April 19, 2022, at least 20 military personnel lost their lives in a series of ill-fated crashes.

Specific incidents underscore the gravity of the situation: On February 22, 2021, seven NAF personnel died when their plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Abuja, while en route to Minna, Niger State, to assist in rescuing abducted students and workers from Government Science College, Kagara. The then NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed an aircraft crash and the pilots' whereabouts on March 31, 2021. One of the most high-profile incidents occurred on May 21, 2021, when a military Beachcraft 350 aircraft crashed at Kaduna International Airport, killing all 11 people on board, including the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru. Another Alpha Jet Aircraft crashed in Zamfara on July 18, 2021, after being shot down by bandits, though the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, managed to escape. In April 2022, a trainer aircraft crash in Kaduna claimed the lives of two pilots.

Further incidents include an August 29, 2015, Air Force plane crash in Kaduna that killed seven individuals, four of whom were military personnel. An F-7Nl jet crash on October 10, 2015, resulted in one fatality. An Augusta Westland 101 helicopter crashed in Makurdi, Benue State, on November 15, 2016. On July 6, 2017, a NAF Agusta 109 Light Utility Helicopter crashed in the Borno River without casualties. Two F-7Ni aircraft collided near Katampe Hills in Abuja on September 28, 2018, during a rehearsal for Nigeria's 58th independence anniversary, leading to one death. Finally, on January 2, 2019, five crew members perished when a NAF Mi-35 aircraft crashed near Damasak, Borno State. This extensive list of incidents highlights the persistent challenges facing the Nigerian Air Force and the critical need for transparent investigations and preventative measures.

Lawyers advising on public accountability, human rights, or administrative law in Nigeria should note HURIWA's critique, as it highlights a persistent pattern of non-transparent military accident investigations. This could inform strategies for public interest litigation or advocacy aimed at compelling greater government disclosure and accountability in such matters.

Source: Original reporting via Leadership News