NAF Aircraft Crash: Victims’ remains still trapped in Ondo swamp 24 Hours after incident

Twenty-four hours after a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed in a swampy area of Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, the remains of the victims were yet to be recovered as of Tuesday morning.

The aircraft crashed on Monday morning during a routine mission from Benin to Lagos, killing all 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, according to the Nigerian Air Force.

The wreckage is reportedly buried and submerged deep in the swamp, making the recovery operation difficult for emergency responders.

Sources at the scene said the largely inaccessible terrain, coupled with murky waters and thick vegetation, had compounded efforts to reach and evacuate the victims.

As of 11:30am on Tuesday, journalists who visited the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbokoda were barred from accessing the crash site.

The crash location is about 500 metres east of the Naval Base and has been cordoned off as recovery operations continue.

Some journalists were also reportedly arrested by operatives of the FOB for allegedly accessing the crash site without authorisation.

Police seek bigger equipment

The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Felix Ohagwu, described the recovery operation as challenging because of the difficult terrain.

“What happened yesterday was quite unfortunate. It’s a very difficult terrain, the creeks, mangroves. Assessing the site of the crash was not easy. I had to use a smaller boat, a canoe, to assess it,” Ohagwu said.

He commended the marine police, the Divisional Police Officer in Igbokoda and other personnel who had remained at the scene since the crash.

“For now, the recovery of the wreckage is still in progress,” he said.

Ohagwu explained that additional technical support was required to complete the operation, particularly equipment capable of pulling the wreckage out of the water.

“Most of the scene has been calmed down. We are still expecting a bigger machine to be able to pull the wreckage from the water. We have to pull it,” he said.

The commissioner added that the authorities were awaiting support from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies.

Health commissioner gives update

The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, who was also involved in the operation, said he had been at the site with the Commanding Officer of FOB Igbokoda overseeing the search and recovery efforts.

Ajaka said he had deployed personnel and ambulances from hospitals across Ilaje and Okitipupa Local Government Areas following a directive from Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“I have been in the forest with CO FOB Igbokoda for search and rescue operation. I have deployed personnel and ambulances from all the Hospitals in Ilaje and Okitipupa LGAs as directed by Mr. Governor,” he said.

According to him, the crash site is approximately 500 metres east of the Naval Base, while several reports circulating on social media were being made by people who were not at the location.

Ajaka said he remained at the site until about 11pm with local divers and the FOB commander and his personnel.

He described the crash as a national disaster and appealed to members of the public and media organisations to avoid spreading unverified information.

“This is a national disaster that we shouldn’t play politics with. Please let’s tarry and wait for verified information,” he said.

Ajaka said the operation would resume with swamp buggies and other specialised equipment to facilitate access to the crash site.

He also commended the Commanding Officer and personnel of FOB Igbokoda, as well as medical teams from the State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa; General Hospital, Igbokoda; Comprehensive Health Centre, Igbokoda, and other facilities involved in the response.

The commissioner expressed hope that the country would not experience another tragedy of such magnitude.

The Nigerian Air Force has released the identities of the 25 people who died in the crash and said the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, had directed a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

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