NAF CRASH: Ondo Orders Igbokoda River Fumigation, Plans Emergency Water Supply
The Ondo State Government has ordered the fumigation of the river around the site of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda following complaints from residents about a foul smell coming from the area.
The directive was issued by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who also instructed the state ministries of environment and health to provide nose masks and other essential health supplies to residents as a precaution against possible health hazards.
The measures follow concerns about potential environmental pollution around the crash site in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, the governor also directed the Ilaje Local Government authorities to arrange water tankers to provide residents with potable water if assessments establish that the river is severely polluted and unsuitable for use.
The water supply arrangement is expected to remain in place pending a lasting intervention to address any confirmed pollution.
The government said the measures were necessary because the river serves as an important source of livelihood for residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities.
Aiyedatiwa also reiterated the state government’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Air Force’s ongoing evacuation and recovery operations while protecting residents of the affected community.
The latest intervention follows the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, identified as NAF 931, near a naval base in Igbokoda on October 5, 2026.
The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when the accident occurred.
The crash prompted search and recovery operations involving the military and other emergency response agencies. Recovery efforts have been complicated by the swampy terrain and the aircraft’s submersion in the water.
Residents’ complaints about the smell from the crash site have added environmental and public health concerns to the ongoing recovery operation.
However, the available reports do not establish whether laboratory tests have confirmed contamination of the river or identified the source of the smell.
The Nigerian Air Force has also constituted a 12-member Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to establish the circumstances and causes of the crash and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The investigation is expected to examine relevant operational, technical, environmental, human and organisational factors.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Government’s latest directives place immediate attention on the welfare of residents while recovery operations continue at the crash site.
