No survivor has been found following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has said.
Aiyedatiwa disclosed this on Monday during an interview with Channels Television, saying residents, security personnel and emergency responders had searched the crash site without finding anyone alive.
The governor said he was informed of the incident at about 10:30am after the chairman of the affected local government contacted him.
According to him, residents living across the river from the Nigerian Navy base in Igbokoda heard a loud sound before seeing the aircraft plunge into a swampy area.
He said the Nigerian Navy initially held back to determine whether the crash had resulted in a fire or explosion before moving towards the site.
“When they noticed that it’s just an accident, they didn’t see any sign of fire. So they moved in, trying to see if they could rescue the people,” Aiyedatiwa said.
He added that personnel from the local emergency management agency, residents and members of the Amotekun Corps subsequently joined the search operation.
“But from the information we got, no single life was saved up to this moment. They could not see any living soul that was in that aircraft,” the governor said.
Aiyedatiwa said search teams recovered parts of the aircraft, including portions of its wings, identification cards and military uniforms, which helped establish that the crashed aircraft belonged to the Nigerian military.
“But they saw the ruins, some of the wreckage from the wings of the aircraft, you know, some ID cards, I was told, and then uniform. That was when they knew it was a military aircraft,” he said.
The governor described the crash as a painful incident, noting that it occurred not only in Ondo State but also in his home local government.
“So it’s a sad situation today. And also it happens in my own state, not just my state, even in my own local government where I’m from,” he said.
He also expressed sympathy for the affected military personnel, noting that they were serving in the defence of Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
“It happens to Nigerian military officers who are assigned to protect the territorial integrity of our country and, you know, involving such, you know, accidents. So, so painful. So painful, but so sad,” he added.
The Nigerian Air Force had confirmed that an ATR-42 aircraft with registration number NGR 931 crashed in Igbokoda while on a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard the aircraft.
Search and rescue operations were ongoing as authorities continued efforts to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crash.