Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has directed the state ministries of environment and health to commence extensive fumigation of a river in Igbokoda following residents’ complaints about a strong stench emanating from the waterway where a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed last week.
The directive is aimed at preventing potential disease outbreaks and protecting public health, as the river serves as a major source of livelihood for residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities.
The governor also directed the Ilaje Local Government authorities to arrange water tankers for the continuous distribution of potable water to residents if assessments establish that the river is severely polluted and unsafe for use.
According to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, the water supply arrangement will remain in place pending a lasting solution to the pollution.
Aiyedatiwa further directed the relevant ministries to distribute nose masks and other essential health kits to residents to protect them from potential health hazards.
The governor reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to providing the necessary support to the Nigerian Air Force in its ongoing search and recovery operations, while ensuring the safety and welfare of residents in the affected community.
Search and recovery operations continue
The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed on October 5, 2026. The aircraft had 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.
It was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when the accident occurred.
Although search-and-rescue operations were activated immediately after the crash, the passengers and crew members had yet to be located at the time of reporting.
On Tuesday, the Nigerian Air Force established a 12-member board to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, ordered sustained search and recovery operations alongside a comprehensive investigation into the accident.
Air Vice Marshal FO Ankeli will lead the investigation board, while Air Vice Marshal EOE Ebiowe, head of the Investigation and Recovery Team, will coordinate the broader response.
The board comprises specialists in aviation operations, flight safety, piloting, air traffic control, aircraft engineering, maintenance, medical services and other technical fields.
Representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau are also members of the board, bringing civilian aviation expertise to the investigation.
According to the Nigerian Air Force, the investigation will examine operational, technical, environmental, human and organisational factors that may have contributed to the crash.
