Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Wednesday ordered the sustained search for the victims and wreckage of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft that crashed at Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, saying every effort must be made to recover those involved in the tragedy.
Aiyedatiwa, who gave the directive during his visit to the crash site, received a briefing on the ongoing search and recovery operation by personnel of the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and local divers.
The governor said the state government had responded to the difficult terrain by deploying two amphibious machines, popularly known as swamp buggies, to create wider access to the crash location and facilitate the movement of larger boats and rescue equipment.
According to him, the machines were also being used to excavate the swamp in the search for the main wreckage of the aircraft, which was yet to be located as of the time of his visit.
He said divers from the Navy and local communities were continuing the search in deeper sections of the swamp, noting that the difficult terrain and soft nature of the area had made the recovery operation particularly challenging.
Aiyedatiwa described the incident as a “national tragedy”, saying no survivor had been found from the aircraft, which was reportedly carrying about 32 people on a special mission from Benin to Lagos.
He said parts of bodies, clothing and jackets belonging to Air Force personnel, as well as fragments of the aircraft, had been recovered and preserved for further investigation.
The governor also disclosed that aviation fuel was flowing into the surrounding water, causing pollution in the area, while efforts continued to locate the submerged aircraft.
Aiyedatiwa said the nature of the terrain suggested that the aircraft could have sunk deeply into the mud, making it difficult for rescuers to locate the main wreckage.
He said the government’s intervention was aimed at improving access to the site and supporting the federal agencies leading the recovery operation.
The governor also said the aircraft could have caused a greater disaster had the pilot not succeeded in manoeuvring it away from the community.
According to him, residents who witnessed the incident reported that the aircraft appeared to be descending with what sounded like an engine problem and was heading towards the community before the pilot manoeuvred it away.
He said the aircraft eventually crashed about 200 metres from the community and went into the swamp.
Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude that the crash did not occur within the populated area, saying such an occurrence could have resulted in greater loss of lives and property.
The governor commiserated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the families of the deceased and the Nigerian Air Force over the loss of the military personnel.
He described the victims as young Nigerians who had dedicated their lives to defending the territorial integrity of the country, noting that President Tinubu had declared three days of national mourning and ordered the lowering of the national flag in their honour.
Aiyedatiwa urged Nigerians to continue praying for the bereaved families, describing the loss as painful and unexpected.
He said the state government would continue to support the relevant agencies involved in the search and recovery operation.
Earlier, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Igbokoda, Captain Andy Alemongwa, briefed the governor on the progress of the operation as Navy personnel and local divers continued the search for the missing victims and the main wreckage.