The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for full transparency and accountability following the Nigerian Air Force’s release of the names of those who died in Monday’s ATR-42 aircraft crash.

The party said the disclosure of the casualties, which reportedly includes civilians and children, has raised serious questions about why civilians were aboard a military aircraft said to have been on a “routine mission.”

In a statement issued by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, the party reiterated its call for a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

According to the ADC, the investigation must go beyond simply establishing the circumstances of the accident and provide clear answers to critical questions surrounding the mission and the presence of civilians on board.

The party said the investigation must specifically establish:

1. The purpose of the military mission;
2. Who authorised the presence of civilian passengers, including children, on the aircraft; and
3. The full circumstances that led to the crash.

The ADC stressed that describing the flight as a “routine mission” does not adequately address the questions raised by the tragedy.

“Routine mission” is a description of an event, not an explanation, the party said, insisting that the families of those who lost their lives deserve clear and credible answers.

The ADC further emphasised that, beyond the grief of the victims’ families, the incident raises issues of public accountability and demands a transparent process capable of establishing responsibility and preventing similar occurrences in the future.

The party therefore urged the relevant authorities to conduct an impartial and comprehensive investigation and to make its findings available to the public.

For the ADC, the loss of lives—particularly where civilians and children are involved—must not be treated as an issue that can be resolved with a general description of the flight. The circumstances surrounding the mission, the authorisation of passengers and the cause of the crash must be fully established in the interest of the victims, their families and the Nigerian public.