Squadron Leader Ahamefule Aham Man-Ugwueje was one of the pilots of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, NAF 931. The plane crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday. Man-Ugwueje got married in a big ceremony in Abuja just two weeks before the crash.
He tied the knot with Flight Lieutenant Damilola Adekunle on September 19, 2026. This information came from the wedding invitation and posts by vendors who worked on the event.
His Facebook profile shows that Man-Ugwueje is from Umuahia, Abia State. It also lists Abuja as his current town.
The aircraft had 25 people on board. This included five crew members and 20 passengers. It crashed while on a regular mission from Benin to Lagos.
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed on Tuesday that all 25 people on the flight died in the crash. They also released the names of the victims.
PUNCH Online found videos and photos from Man-Ugwueje and Adekunle's wedding on the pages of the wedding planner and vendors. One of the videographers, Beejay Creates, shared videos from the wedding with the caption, "Love in every word."
In the post, the couple was identified as "BRIDE DAMILOLA AND GROOM AHAMEFULE." The wedding took place at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, The Masters Place, located at Plot 826, Solomon Lar Way, opposite the NHIS Headquarters and Customary Court of Appeal, Utako, Abuja.
The ceremony began at 11am, and the reception followed at 3pm at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre, Km 10 Expressway, Asokoro, Abuja. The invitation stated that the groom is the son of retired Group Captain Man-Ugwueje.
The Nigerian Air Force listed Man-Ugwueje among the five crew members who lost their lives in the crash. He was the co-pilot of the aircraft.
The NAF stated that the plane was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the crash happened. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, called the crash “a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation.” He expressed sympathy to the families, loved ones, and colleagues of the victims.
The Service announced that a thorough investigation had been ordered to find out what caused the accident. PUNCH Online earlier reported that Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said no survivor was found at the crash site. This was after search efforts involving security personnel, emergency responders, and local residents.
Aiyedatiwa said he received news of the crash around 10.30am on Monday. The chairman of the Ilaje Local Government Area contacted him about the incident. He mentioned that residents across the river from the Nigerian Navy base in Igbokoda heard a loud sound, then saw the aircraft dive into a swampy area.
He explained that the Nigerian Navy first waited to check if there was any fire or explosion before heading to the crash site. “When they noticed that it’s just an accident, they didn’t see any sign of fire. So they moved in, trying to see if they could rescue the people,” Aiyedatiwa said.
He added that officials from the local emergency management agency, residents, and personnel from the Amotekun Corps joined the search for survivors.
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