Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has ordered the immediate fumigation of the Igbokoda River following complaints from residents about a strong odour and suspected pollution after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crashed in the area.
The governor also directed the state Ministries of Environment and Health to deploy health personnel and provide nose masks and other essential protective materials to residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities.
The directives followed growing concerns among residents over possible environmental and public health consequences arising from the crash and the presence of suspected aircraft debris and human remains in the river.
According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, the fumigation exercise is intended to minimise the risk of disease outbreaks in the affected communities.
The governor further directed the Ilaje Local Government Council to arrange water tankers for the continuous supply of potable water should investigations establish that the river has been severely polluted and is unsafe for domestic use.
The alternative water supply arrangement, the statement said, would remain in place pending a permanent solution to the environmental concerns.
Igbokoda, a major riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area, relies heavily on its waterways for fishing, transportation and other economic activities. Any prolonged pollution of the river could therefore have significant consequences for residents whose livelihoods depend on it.
Aiyedatiwa also assured residents that his administration would continue to provide necessary support to the Nigerian Air Force during ongoing search, recovery and evacuation operations at the crash site.
The governor said the safety and welfare of residents of the affected communities remained a priority as authorities continued efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Background
The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, designated NAF 931, crashed on October 5, 2026, while reportedly travelling from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos on a routine mission.
The aircraft was carrying 25 people — five crew members and 20 passengers — when it went down in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State.
Search-and-rescue operations were activated shortly after the crash, but the occupants of the aircraft had yet to be fully located as of the latest developments.
The accident has prompted a coordinated response involving the Nigerian Air Force and relevant civilian authorities, with search, recovery and investigation efforts continuing at the crash site.
The NAF on Tuesday constituted a 12-member investigation board to determine the circumstances and causes of the crash and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
Air Vice Marshal FO Ankeli is heading the investigation board, while Air Vice Marshal EOE Ebiowe, head of the Investigation and Recovery Team, is coordinating the wider search and recovery operation.
The board comprises experts in aviation operations, flight safety, piloting, air traffic control, aircraft engineering and maintenance, medical services and other technical areas.
Representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau are also participating.
The NAF said the investigation would examine operational, technical, environmental, human and organisational factors that may have contributed to the accident.
Meanwhile, the state government’s latest intervention is aimed at addressing immediate environmental and health concerns in Igbokoda while search and recovery operations and the broader investigation into the crash continue.