A military Dornier GO 22 aircraft around 8.15 on Sunday morning crashed at Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State on its way to Obudu in Cross River State.
The propeller aircraft, according to reports, departed Abuja around 8.15 a.m with senior military officers. The officers were travelling to the Obudu Cattle Ranch in the plane for a retreat organised by the Chief of Army Staff.
They are said to be members of the committee on how to reposition the Nigerian Army for the next decade. A release from the Nigerian Army stated that the names of the dead officers would be released after their families had been contacted.
Among those said to be on the aircraft were a General Officer Commanding (GOC) and other top military officers.
Reports also said the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Owoye Azazi, missed death as he decided not to go with the senior officers when he found out that the plane was already full.
He then ordered the pilot to take the officers to Obudu and return to take him and others left behind. When contacted, the Director of Defence Information, General Fred Chukwuma, confirmed the incident and said that the affected officers were on their way to Obudu for a retreat.
He, however, referred the Nigerian Tribune to the Director of Air Force Public Relations who he said was better placed to give further clarifications.
The Director of Air Force Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Ozoemena, told the Nigerian Tribune that the site of the crash had been located 18 nautical miles to Obudu.
According to him, there were hopes that some people survived, while search and rescue for survivors continued.
The Air Force spokesman, who did not give the identity of those involved in the crash, or the survivors, said that more information on the crash would be made available to the press today.
He said that preliminary information on the crash and what happened was currently going on and that details would also be made available today.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Azazi, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Paul Dike, as at press time, were at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport waiting for further details on the crash.
The Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Segun Demuren, confirmed the accident, but refused to give further information, saying that it was a military affair.
Meanwhile, the Benue State government and Nigeria Air Force (NAF) had launched search and rescue operation for the crashed aircraft.