Joanna Yakubu, partner of Flight Lieutenant I.S. Bako, has mourned the Nigerian Air Force officer following the crash of an NAF aircraft in the Igbokoda swamps of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, on Monday, which claimed the lives of all 25 people on board.

Yakubu shared her grief in a TikTok post on Tuesday, recalling her last conversation with Bako, who she said had told her he was travelling to Abuja without indicating that he would not return.

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“It actually Abuja you told me you are going to and you didn’t mention you will not come back. You left me,” she wrote in the emotional tribute.

Bako was among five crew members aboard the aircraft, alongside 20 passengers.

The aircraft, identified by its registration number NAF 931, was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed into the swamps around Igbokoda.

The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that 25 people were on board and said no survivors had been found following the accident.

In a statement, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said search-and-rescue operations began immediately after the crash, with relevant authorities coordinating efforts to locate and account for everyone on board.

The statement read, “NAF 931 had 25 persons on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.”

It added that the aircraft was undertaking a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, expressed condolences to the families, colleagues and loved ones of the deceased, describing the incident as “a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation”.

Aneke also assured the bereaved families that the Service would provide support as they dealt with the loss.

The five crew members were identified as Squadron Leader M.I. Aburime, flight captain; Squadron Leader A.P. Man-Ugwueje, co-pilot; Flight Lieutenant I.S. Bako, co-pilot; Warrant Officer Abubakar A., aircraft technician; and Corporal Uguru H.C., aircraft technician.

The 20 passengers included serving Air Force personnel and civilians, among them Mrs Ezeh Nneka, Godstmine Tarabina, Joy Micheal, Sunday Micheal, Ukeme David and Gideon Omotola.

The Air Force said Aneke had ordered a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.

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As families and loved ones mourn the victims, Yakubu’s message has offered a personal glimpse into the grief following the loss of the military personnel and passengers aboard the aircraft.