IGBOKODA, ONDO STATE — No survivor has been found after a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has disclosed.
The governor made the disclosure on Monday during an interview with Channels Television, hours after the Nigerian Air Force confirmed that an ATR-42 aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, crashed in the area while on a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos.
According to Aiyedatiwa, residents, security personnel and emergency responders who searched the crash site had, as of the time of his interview, found no indication that anyone aboard the aircraft survived.
“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.
The aircraft reportedly disappeared from radar at about 9:13 a.m., with its wreckage later located near the Nigerian Navy Base in Igbokoda.
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Residents Heard Loud Sound
Aiyedatiwa said residents living across the river from the Navy base heard a loud sound before witnessing the aircraft plunge into a swampy area.
He explained that Nigerian Navy personnel initially remained cautious while determining whether the incident involved a fire or explosion before proceeding towards the crash site.
Officials from the state emergency management agency, local residents and members of the Amotekun Corps subsequently joined the search and rescue operation.
The governor said search teams recovered several pieces of wreckage from the crash site, including parts of the aircraft’s wing, identification cards and military uniforms.
These discoveries, he said, helped confirm that the aircraft involved was a Nigerian military plane.
32 People Reportedly On Board
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had earlier disclosed that preliminary information indicated that 32 people were aboard the aircraft.
The figure comprised 25 passengers and seven crew members.
Keyamo said the aircraft disappeared from radar at approximately 9:13 a.m. before its wreckage was eventually located close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
At the time of the initial announcement, the Nigerian Air Force had not released details on the number of casualties or confirmed the condition of those aboard.
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The Air Force said it had activated search and rescue operations in collaboration with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
Tinubu Orders Investigation
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigerian Air Force to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The President described the incident as a painful moment for the Armed Forces and the country, as authorities work to establish what led to the aircraft’s disappearance and subsequent crash.
Governor Aiyedatiwa also expressed deep sadness over the incident, particularly because the crash occurred in his home state and local government area.
He sympathized with the military personnel involved and their families, describing the incident as a painful reminder of the risks faced by Nigerian military officers in the line of duty.
The governor said the personnel were assigned to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity and expressed sadness over the loss of lives feared in the incident.
Investigation Underway
Authorities are expected to continue recovery efforts at the crash site while investigations determine the cause of the accident.
The Nigerian Air Force and other relevant agencies are coordinating the response as officials work to establish the identities of those aboard and provide further information to their families and the public.
The incident has triggered concern across the country, with Nigerians awaiting further official updates on the circumstances surrounding the crash of the military aircraft.
