NAF Plane Crash: Igbokoda Residents Raise Alarm Over Water Pollution, Demand Urgent Clean-Up

Residents of Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have raised concerns over possible environmental contamination following the October 5 crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft, calling on the authorities to recover the remaining human remains and provide assurances about the safety of their water supply.

The residents said the foul smell around the crash site and concerns about possible aviation fuel pollution had increased anxiety in the riverine community, where water from the affected area is reportedly used for domestic purposes.

The concerns were reported by Vanguard and Premium Times on Tuesday, October 13, following the crash of an NAF ATR-42 aircraft in a swampy area near Igbokoda.

The community’s traditional ruler, the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, said human remains were still visible in the water and appealed to the Federal Government, the Ondo State Government and the Nigerian Air Force to intensify recovery operations.

According to the monarch, the offensive smell had spread beyond the immediate crash site, while residents were worried about the possible effects of contamination on their health and livelihoods.

He called for the removal of the remaining human remains and aircraft debris, measures to address possible fuel pollution and the provision of safe drinking water while the recovery and environmental assessment continued.

In separate accounts reported by Vanguard, residents described the smell as persistent and said they wanted the authorities to act quickly to prevent further hardship.

One resident, Omogbemi Damola, told the newspaper that unpleasant odours had been entering her home for several days.

Another resident, Oroyo Levy, expressed concern about possible health risks, particularly for children, and called for an investigation into the environmental impact of the crash.

The concerns extend beyond the immediate discomfort caused by the smell. Community members fear that possible contamination could affect water use, fishing and other activities that support livelihoods in the coastal area.

However, the reported environmental concerns should be distinguished from a confirmed public health emergency. The reports reviewed for this story did not establish, through laboratory test results or a public health assessment, that the affected water had caused an outbreak of disease.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, said the state government was working with the Federal Government to recover the victims and assess the environmental consequences of the crash.

Speaking to Vanguard, Loko acknowledged that pollution concerns had emerged and said the government was undertaking an assessment of the potential environmental and public health effects.

He said the findings would help determine the decontamination measures required to address the situation.

However, the commissioner disputed the suggestion that residents had been left without drinking water because of the crash.

According to him, boreholes were available in the area, while the crash site was about 500 metres from the bulk of the town.

Loko maintained that the government was not ruling out the possibility of pollution but said the extent of the impact needed to be assessed.

The difference between the residents’ concerns and the government’s position highlights the need for clear information about water quality, the extent of any contamination and the measures required to protect the population.

The aircraft crashed into a swamp near Igbokoda on October 5 while travelling from Benin City to Lagos.

In an initial statement issued on the day of the accident, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said air traffic controllers had lost contact with the military aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, at about 9:13 a.m.

The minister said the wreckage had subsequently been located near the Naval Base in Igbokoda and that search-and-rescue operations were under way.

Recovery efforts have faced difficulties because of the swampy terrain and the extent to which the aircraft was submerged.

Premium Times reported on October 13 that search teams were continuing efforts to recover victims’ remains and locate the aircraft’s flight recorders.

The publication also reported concerns about possible fuel pollution at the site. However, the full extent of any contamination remained unclear in the reports reviewed.

The Nigerian Air Force announced on October 13 that it had established a 12-member board of inquiry to investigate the crash.

According to a report by Channels Television, the board would examine the circumstances and causes of the accident and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences.

The investigation is expected to consider operational, technical, environmental, human and organisational factors that may have contributed to the crash.

The Air Force also said search-and-recovery operations would continue and cautioned against drawing conclusions about the cause of the accident before the investigation was completed.

As the investigation and recovery efforts continue, residents’ immediate concerns centre on the removal of human remains, the possible effects of fuel pollution and the safety of water used by the community.

The outcome of the environmental assessment and any water-quality testing will be important in determining the scale of the problem and the interventions required to protect residents.