Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has confirmed that there are no survivors yet after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje LGA, on Monday.
Aiyedatiwa, who spoke on Channels Television after the aircraft crashed in a swampy area opposite a naval base in Igbokoda, said he received information about the crash at about 10:30am from the chairman of Ilaje LGA, who informed him that an aircraft had gone down in the area.
He said residents and personnel at the nearby naval base initially heard a sound resembling an earth tremor before some witnesses saw the aircraft dive into the swamp.
According to Aiyedatiwa, Nigerian Navy personnel initially stayed back to establish that there was no risk of an explosion or fire before moving into the area to search for survivors.
He said officials of the local emergency management agency, residents, and personnel of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun, joined the rescue efforts.
“But from the information we got, no single life was saved up to this moment,” Aiyedatiwa said.
“They could not see any living soul that was in that aircraft. But they saw the ruins, some of the breakage, the wreckage from the wings of the aircraft. Some ID cards, and then a uniform. That was when they knew it was a military aircraft.”
Aiyedatiwa said he had been receiving updates from his security adviser, the local government chairman and security personnel involved in the operation.
“No survivors yet, from the information I’ve gotten from the people,” he reiterated.
“I have not been able to speak to the naval captain that is leading the base, but my security adviser, the information, which he is the one getting in contact with them, with the Amotekun leader in the local government, and the local government chairman. From all indications, no survivor yet that we can record.”
The governor described the crash as a painful incident, particularly because it occurred in his home local government.
He said the victims were military personnel who were on duty to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
“It’s a sad situation today, and we are all really aggrieved as Nigerians, and also it happened in my own state, not just my state, even my own local government where I’m from,” he said.
“Everybody has been mourning about that which happened to Nigerian military officers who are planning to protect the territorial integrity of our country. So painful.”
The NAF confirmed that the aircraft was an ATR-42 and said it was on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo state capital, to Lagos when the accident occurred.
Ehimen Ejodame, NAF director of public relations and information, said the air force had activated a search and rescue operation in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency agencies.
The NAF did not initially disclose the number of people on board or the casualties.
The aircraft is understood to have been used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance as well as air maritime operations.
President Bola Tinubu has since ordered the NAF to commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.
Aircraft parts, personal effects scattered across the area’
A resident who visited the scene of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje LGA of Ondo state, on Monday, said human remains, aircraft parts and personal effects were scattered across the area.
Oluboyo Olusola, the resident, said some bodies were also found inside the water, noting that the difficult terrain initially prevented first responders from reaching the crash site until naval personnel assisted them in gaining access to the area.
Olusola said the incident occurred at about 10 am and that he did not witness the aircraft go down but was alerted by a deafening sound that sent residents rushing towards the scene.
According to him, the condition of the crash site and what was recovered there suggest that there might be no survivors.
“We heard a loud noise like thunder and rushed to the scene, only to discover that it was an aircraft crash. Initially, we thought it was a helicopter but later understood it was an aircraft,” he said.
“It was difficult to access the terrain, but with the assistance of some naval officers, we were able to get there and saw the remains of the aircraft, as well as human remains, clothes, shoes and other personal effects.
“Some of the bodies were also inside the water. From what I saw, it appeared that there was no survivor.”
He added that the difficult terrain and waterlogged nature of the area posed a major challenge to those trying to reach the wreckage.
