The Boeing 727 aircraft, registered as 5N-BBG, departed Port Harcourt for Lagos at about 3:52 p.m. on November 7, 1996, carrying 134 passengers and 10 crew members. It never reached its destination, crashing into the waters around Itoikin, near Ejirin, about 34 nautical miles from Lagos.
In a personal reflection marking the anniversary, the journalist described covering the disaster as a defining moment in his professional journey, recalling how the assignment tested his determination at a time when he had little experience and limited access to information.
He said the story became a major responsibility from November 8 through the end of December 1996, as he worked to establish what had happened and provide Nigerians with information about the tragedy.
The journalist recalled that the investigation and reporting required repeated trips to Itoikin, sometimes twice a day, over more than five weeks. He also credited colleagues and aviation professionals who helped him understand technical details and navigate the challenges of reporting an air disaster.
Among the lessons he said the assignment taught him were the importance of attention to detail, persistence, observation and the ability to turn complex information into credible analysis.
He also emphasised the need for restraint in journalism, saying reporters must understand what information matters, explain developments clearly and avoid including details that serve little or no purpose.
Recalling the Final Moments of ADC 086
According to the account accompanying his reflection, ADC 086 was descending towards Lagos at Flight Level 240 when it encountered another Boeing 727, Triax Flight 185, which was climbing out of Lagos towards Enugu at Flight Level 160.
The account states that air traffic control cleared ADC 086 to descend and issued heading instructions that placed it on a conflicting path with the Triax aircraft. The pilot, Captain Dafieko Sama, reportedly attempted an evasive manoeuvre after the aircraft’s Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) alerted the crew to the approaching traffic.
Flight data recorder information reportedly showed that the aircraft entered an increasingly steep turn, with its bank angle rising sharply before it lost control and descended towards the water.
The investigation reportedly identified air traffic control’s traffic separation error as a contributing factor, while also citing the pilot’s judgement and subsequent collision-avoidance manoeuvre in its findings.
The journalist described the events as a tragic combination of circumstances, noting that Captain Sama had attempted to avert a mid-air collision.
A Return to the Crash Site
Thirty years after the assignment, the journalist revisited the area around the Itoikin jetty, which he described as hallowed ground because of its connection to the disaster.
However, he said the condition of the memorial cenotaph at the site was disappointing, describing it as being in a state of disrepair and questioning the level of respect shown to those who lost their lives.
For him, the return was not primarily about producing another report but about remembering where his career took a defining turn and the responsibility he carried as a young journalist entrusted with telling a story marked by grief and loss.
He also paid tribute to people who supported his reporting, including aviation professionals, journalists and colleagues at Channels Television. He particularly acknowledged the late Lekan Ashimi and Godwin Aleoghena for their guidance in understanding aviation terminology and interpreting technical information.
He expressed gratitude to Channels Television’s management, especially Dr John Momoh and Mrs Olusola Momoh, for the mentorship and professional guidance he received during his early years at the organisation.
The journalist also remembered the families of those who died, acknowledging that the tragedy changed the lives of many people. He said the passage of time may ease the pain of loss but does not erase the memories of those who died.
He called for the victims to continue to be honoured through words and actions, while expressing hope that those affected by the disaster would find peace and closure.
