The Senate has suspended its planned National Security Summit following the death of 32 Nigerian Air Force personnel in an aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The two-day summit, scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2026, has been postponed indefinitely following the crash and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of three days of national mourning.
The Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, announced the decision in a statement on Tuesday.
Twenty-five officers and seven crew members were killed when the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday.
The tragedy came as the Senate was preparing to bring stakeholders together to confront the country’s worsening security challenges.
The summit was designed to review the nation’s persistent security problems and develop practical measures to better protect lives and property across the federation.
Preparations for the meeting had already been concluded following the completion of zonal public hearings.
But the fatal crash and the ensuing national mourning forced the Senate to suspend the gathering until further notice.
President Tinubu had declared three days of national mourning for the fallen personnel and directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country.
Bamidele said the Senate considered it appropriate to defer the summit in honour of the military personnel who died in active service to the nation.
The Senate expressed condolences to President Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Air Force, and the families of the deceased officers and crew members.
Bamidele described the victims as gallant personnel who paid the supreme price in service to the fatherland.
The Senate said a fresh date for the National Security Summit would be announced in due course.
It also appealed to all stakeholders to take note of the national tragedy and bear with the Senate as the country mourns the fallen personnel.
