French transport minister Philippe Tabarot said he and interior minister Laurent Nunez were travelling to the scene of the crash, which he called a “terrible tragedy”.

Yves Seguy, the prefect of the eastern department of Meurthe-et-Moselle, said that no bystanders were injured in the incident, according to the AFP news agency .

The crash took place in a built up area near a shopping centre, AFP reports.

“The plane fell almost vertically, in the immediate vicinity of a housing estate, on the edge of the airfield,” Seguy told French broadcaster BFM, adding it was lucky there were no additional victims.

Half of the skydivers who died were nurses, Thierry Pechey, president of the Meurthe-et-Moselle branch of the Order of Independent Nurses, told BFM.

Local officials also said relatives of the victims were present at the airfield when the crash happened. They were reportedly there to watch the dive, which was a first skydiving experience for the five students.

A witness to the crash, who declined to be identified, told Reuters he saw the plane veering off to the right as he was driving past.

“Something was clearly wrong,” he said.

The man did not see the crash, due to an embankment by the side of the road, but he says he heard the sound.

When he arrived at the site, he tried to help extinguish the wreckage of the plane, which had caught fire.

“We saw right away that it was over, that they had all died instantly. There was no movement, and it was clear the impact had been too violent for there to be any survivors.”

A team of specialists was on its way to investigate the cause of the incident, Meurthe-et-Moselle department president Chaynesse Khirouni told local media.

The controversy continues to generate intense discussions across social media platforms, with users debating issues surrounding morality, privacy, and leadership accountability within religious institutions.

Authorities have also not confirmed whether any formal complaint has been lodged concerning the matter.

“I was putting on the AMBO-crested cap when the shooting occured.

“Everyone ran for safety, and they pursued me because I was wearing the APC candidate cap. When I was shot, I cried for help. Then the attackers retreated back into their vehicle and drove away.

“The thugs used the insignia of Accord Party; three of them came out of the vehicle with guns and started shooting. Then they saw me, and went after me,” he narrated.

Police confirm shooting, rescue Ilesa kidnap victims
The Osun State police command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident, and said investigation has commenced.

The victims were reportedly abducted by thugs suspected to be loyal to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Political violence in the state have heightened tension as the August 15 governorship election draws closer, with reported killing in some parts of the state.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, has directed the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to embark on show of strength and raid criminal hideouts in a bid to flush suspected criminals out of the state ahead of the election.

Disu, who spoke through DIG southwest, Adegoke Fayoade disclosed this while addressing stakeholders at the police command involving INEC, political parties, head of security agencies, religious groups and the media.

He said criminals would not be allowed to set the state on fire and warned politicians to stop harbouring suspected criminals