President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the people of Algeria over Wednesday’s military plane crash.
The crash occurred near the Boufarik military airport in Algiers which claimed no fewer than 257lives.
The president in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Femi Adesina, also extended condolences to the families and friends of bereaved Algerians and other nationals, in sorrow because of the tragedy.
President Buhari assured President Bouteflika and those who lost their loved ones of the sympathy of all Nigerians in their moment of grief.
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The president affirmed that the thoughts and prayers of all Nigerians were with all who mourn, even as he prayed that God Almighty will comfort the bereaved, the nation of Algeria and grant eternal rest to the souls of those who died in the crash.
The plane, an Ilyushin Il-76, mostly carried soldiers when it went down shortly after takeoff on Wednesday morning.
Algeria’s defence ministry was quoted as saying that 247 passengers and 10 crew members were among the dead following the crash.
Ennahar TV quoted an Algerian ruling party official as saying that 26 people onboard were members of the Polisario Front, a separatist movement in West Sahara – a territory also claimed by Morocco.
Algerie24, a local news website, said the plane was heading to the western Algerian city of Bechar.
Images posted on an Algerian website showed thick smoke billowing from the site of the crash, as several people rushed to help.
The crash at Boufarik would be the worst in Algeria since 2003 when an Air Algerie jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Tamanrasset, killing 102 people.
