NIGERIA: Governor Aiyedatiwa Orders Igbokoda River Fumigation After Air Force Crash

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has ordered the fumigation of the Igbokoda River and the distribution of nose masks and other health kits to residents following complaints about an offensive stench from the site of last week’s Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash.

The directive comes amid growing concerns over possible environmental pollution and health risks as recovery operations continue at the crash site in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, said the governor had directed the Ministries of Environment and Health to commence extensive fumigation of the river to prevent a possible outbreak of diseases.

The statement noted that the river serves as a major source of livelihood for residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities, making urgent intervention necessary.

Aiyedatiwa also directed the Ilaje Local Government Area to arrange water tankers to provide residents with potable water if assessments establish that the river is severely polluted and unsafe for use.

According to the statement, the water supply arrangement will remain in place pending a lasting solution to the pollution concerns.

The governor further instructed the Ministries of Health and Environment to distribute nose masks and other essential health kits to residents to minimise their exposure to potential health hazards.

He also reaffirmed the state government's commitment to supporting the Nigerian Air Force in its ongoing recovery operations while ensuring the safety and welfare of residents in the affected community.

The crash occurred on October 5 when a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed into a swampy area of Igbokoda during a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos.

The incident reportedly claimed the lives of all 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.

Nine days after the crash, the recovery of the victims’ remains and the aircraft wreckage remained a major concern, with residents reporting an increasingly offensive smell from the river.

The traditional ruler of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, had appealed to the Federal and Ondo State governments to accelerate recovery efforts and address suspected contamination from decomposing human remains and spilled aviation fuel.

Recovery operations have been hampered by the swampy terrain and the aircraft’s submersion in the water. The state government has deployed amphibious swamp machines to assist the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, emergency response agencies and local divers in accessing the site and retrieving the wreckage and victims’ remains.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has intensified search and recovery efforts and constituted a 12-member board of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. The Federal Government has also ordered an investigation into the incident.