Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has ordered the fumigation of Igbokoda water ways following complaints of a strong stench from the site where a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed last week.
The governor directed the state ministries of environment and health to begin extensive fumigation to prevent possible disease outbreaks among residents who depend on the river for their livelihoods.
He also instructed the authorities of Ilaje Local Government Area to provide water tankers for the continuous distribution of potable water if tests confirm that the river is severely polluted and unsafe for use.
The measures were contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku.
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 supporting the Nigerian Air Force’s ongoing evacuation efforts and safeguarding residents of the affected community.
The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed on October 5, 2026, while carrying 25 people, including five crew members and 20 passengers.
The aircraft was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when the accident occurred.
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Although search-and-rescue operations began shortly after the crash, the passengers and crew members have yet to be located.
On Tuesday, the Nigerian Air Force established a 12-member board to investigate the accident and determine its circumstances and causes, as well as recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, ordered sustained search and recovery operations alongside a comprehensive investigation.
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 wider 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 on the board to provide civilian aviation expertise.
The Air Force said the investigation would examine operational, technical, environmental, human and organizational factors that may have contributed to the crash.
The Tribune
