The Crash of NAF 911 on September 26, 1992

A NAF C-130 Aircraft

Much of the morning of Saturday, September 26, 1992, was dominated by activities related to environmental sanitation. Later that afternoon in Lagos, Nigeria, the annual Nigerian Army Squash tournament took place at the Ikeja Cantonment. As was to become the annual pattern, Major Ademolekun won the championship.

Practically all the significant military commanders in the Lagos area, including the Commander of the Lagos Garrison and the Air Force Base Commander were at the tournament. After it was completed, players, officials and guests retired to the Officer’s Mess for the award of prizes and merriment, oblivious that a national tragedy was unfolding a few miles away.

Shortly before 1730 hrs a Nigerian Air Force Military Transport Plane, a Lockheed C-130H-LM HERCULES (L-82), production number 4624, registration number NAF 911, piloted by Wing Commanders J.P. Alabesunu and A.S. Mamadi finally got the okay from the control tower to take off – en route to Kaduna and Jos in the northern part of the country. From the Kaduna airport its unique passengers planned to make their way by road back to the Command and Staff College in Jaji. Consisting predominantly of middle ranking officers drawn from the 19th, 20th, and 21st regular courses of the Nigerian Defence Academy, accompanied by a few from the 18th course along with some foreign students, they had been in Lagos on a Naval tour as part of the senior division course. The return trip had been postponed twice - once the day before, and the second time earlier that Saturday on account of word that the aircraft – piloted by Squadron Leader John Aparenkume - had some engine problems during return flights back from Kaduna, Port-Harcourt and Enugu on unrelated business. After a long wait at the airport, over 150 persons crammed into the plane when the final word came. Most had no seat belts and some items of luggage were not secured. All routine checks completed and formalities observed, the big turboprop plane thundered majestically down the runway and took off into the sunset to rendezvous with fate.

As it took off, problems immediately became apparent. According to a witness - a former Nigerian Airways engineer who may have overheard radio transmissions - one engine failed, prompting the pilot to turn around heading back to the airport. Conceivably, he would have had to attempt to trim the plane for a three engine lift while ascending, and feather the non-functioning engine. Then a second engine failed. With insufficient power and lift to negotiate a safe return to the airport, a decision was made to land the plane in the Ejigbo canal. The pilot reportedly tried to align the plane to the canal, and even deployed water landing gear. At that point the third engine failed. Suddenly and without warning, its nose dipped and it went down, nose first, into the swamp, the fuselage buried in the mud, with the right wing and tail broken up. The time was just after 1735 hrs.

There was no manifest, making estimates of precisely how many were onboard difficult. It was said that 168 students had been in Lagos. However, faced with delays or prompted by other instincts, a few had made alternative arrangements. Some reports claim there were 163 on board. Others have said there were actually 174 passengers on the ill fated flight, including some unidentified civilians, personnel of the Nigerian Air Force Military School, Jos and other military personnel who hitched a ride. However, what is certain is that there were no survivors. During recovery operations, the gruesome body count was even said to have included random body parts. The following individuals were later officially confirmed to have died in the crash:

LIST A: ARMY:-Lt. Colonels
1. S.A. Onipede N/2888
2. A.J. Ibiyeye N/33300
3. J.A. Agber N/2712
4. B.A. Ibanga N/3315
5. J.O. Okafor N/2803
6. G.O. Ikoli N/5402
7. S.K. Aladesuyi N/3259

LIST B: ARMY:- Majors
1. C.D. Nwambuowo N/5587
2. E. Ezenwa N/3039
3. M.H. Leramoh N/2889
4. S.O. Yawus N/5956
5. S.S. Agada N/5975
6. E.O. Amechi-Okoro N/5861
7. O.O. Mba N/5945
8. E.J. Onwe N/3196
9. S. Bature N/6085
10. T. Zubair N/5465
11. F.U. Bassey N/6018
12. O.G. Akise N/3207
13. J. Shija N/3217
14. A.B. Famowei N/5936
15. A.A. Itodo N/6043
16. J.O. Okobo N/6047
17. K.A. Opgwu N/6058
18. M.S. Dambata N/6063
19. P.S. Stephen N/3389
20. S.O. Amaga N/6095
21. C.U.M. La'ah N/6092
22. I.A. Abolade N/6102
23. W. Adaa N/6112
24. E.A. Ushibe N/6207
25. J. Ugo N/3356
26. S. Abubakar N/3459
27. G. Josiah N/4362
28. Y. Aliyu N/3471
29. G. Ismaila N/3474
30. M.I. Ukeh N/3191
31. S.A. Jibunoh N/6173
32. I.U. Odache N/3482
33. I.E. Mauzu N/6181
34. P.O. Bamidele N/6185
35. I.D. Nock N/6187
36. D.S. Oyelola N/6186
37. L. Nyanayo N/6192
38. N. Obie N/6195
39. R.N. Nwankwo N/6197
40. C.T. Akpe N/6208
41. R. Okeowo N/6291
42. R.A. Olufe N/6292
43. E. Egoro N/3423
44. A.G. Jegede N/3443
45. A.H. Dombe N/3477
46. P. Yaro N/3488
47. A.Y. Abbas N/4221
48. C.O. Egharevba N/4222
49. F. Ogbebor N/5460
50. B.A. Anebi N/5461
51. G.O. Oyefi N/5467
52. I.K. Nwuke N/5470
53. V.S. Kure N/5483
54. J.A. Tokula N/5484
55. T. Abina N/5486
56. B. Kadiri N/5489
57. C. Mungu N/5502
58. A.N. Ebiringa N/5506
59. O.A. Ogunaike N/6032
60. B.B. Sadiq N/4028
61. S.O Gbenro N/4646
62. T.I. Adahada N/4747
63. C.E. Ogben N/5102
64. O. Babalola N/5115
65. E.W. Ekanem N/5474
66. C.T. Arowololu N/3216
67. M.S.Ogbeha
68. I.J.Raiya
69. D.O.Okoroji
70. M.A.Agoyi
71. V.U.Mukoro
72. A.E.Mshelia
73. J.A.Audu
74. S.A.Oisamoye
75. A. Bala
76. M.A.D.Badamasi
77. E. Ukagha
78. K.E.Osula
79. N.A.Kajero
80. B. Daranijo
81. M.O.Ajibola
82. U.A.M.Balami
83. S. Omakwu
84. A.O.Obiora
85. A.A.Kawonta
86. C. Otti
87. O.O.Olusanya
88. O.J.Mbaka
89. P. Iyayi
90. T.O.Ogunjobi
91. G.N.Nze
92. H. Onwuegbunam
93. M.A. Pindar
95. O. Adebayo
96. B.O. Potsha


LIST C: ARMY:- SGT
1. M. Bahagoo

LIST D: ARMY:- CIVILIAN STAFF
1. O.B. Oshoodi - MOD
2. M.A. Abu (Mrs) - MOD
3. A. Okpe - Reporter.

LIST E: AIR FORCE
1. Wg. Comdr. J.P. Alabesunu
2. Wg. Comdr. A.S. Mamadi
3. Sgn. Ldr. J.A. Adeiza
4. Flt. Lt. S.O. Adamu
5. WO. M.J. Wakala
6. P.S. Tarfa Saidu
7. WO. M.J. Datong
8. Sgt. A. Soyemi
9. Sgn. Ldr. Okon Okon Effiong
10. ,, John Husainu Tela
11. ,, K. Odubanjo
12. ,, F.O. Akede
13. ,, Habu Saidu
14. A. Duson
15. T.A. Clement
16. R.O. Yusuf
17. S.O. Oyerinde
18. N.O. Alege
19. M.T. Njidda
20. J.K. Osho
21. E.O. Ikwue
22. M.M. Gumel
23. A.A. Ndule
24. E.J. Ekpong
25. A.O. Atteh
26. O.Jaja (VideoCameraman)


LIST F: NAVY
1. Lt. Cdr. E. Obelen
2. ,, K.A. Fauka Bello
3. ,, S.O. Odusola
4. ,, O. Shiejir
5. ,, E.J. Gabriel
6. ,, A.O. Ojekunle
7. ,, K.O. Igwara
8. ,, A.O.G. Aboruwa
9. ,, S. Lasisi
10. A.A. Amaino
11. E.N. Okafor
12. T. Awoniyi
13. P. Asoro
14. P.N. Amangbo
15. O.O. Onabolu
16. J.O. Omokhuale
17. C.O. Ochigbono

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TOTAL: 146
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** Note:: 5 additional Ghanaians, 1 Tanzanian, 1 Zimbabwean, and 1 Ugandan military officers were involved.

THOSE WHO GOT AWAY

A number of officers escaped being killed on the airplane by sheer luck. Many are now holding prominent positions in the military – an indication of what might have been for those who died. Those few officers from NDA regular Course 22 who had originally been scheduled to take the 1992 Senior Staff College course were withdrawn from the list when they expressed preference to do the course with their own mates the next time around. Others, who were within the bracket of the 19th, 20th and 21st courses, were tied up with military postings that caused them to reschedule their CSC course. Among those who were on the course and actually visited Lagos for the Naval Tour, some decided to leave for Kaduna on Friday September 25 to attend to personal matters, while a few actually went to the airport, waited in vain for the flight and then either returned to their houses in Lagos or chose to take commercial flights.