Ondo monarch raises alarm over water pollution after NAF plane crash

The traditional ruler of Igbokoda in Ondo State, Afolabi Odidiomo, has raised the alarm over possible water contamination following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft in the community, warning of a potential public health crisis.

Odidiomo, who spoke in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday, said decomposing bodies of victims and possible oil spills from the aircraft had polluted the swamp where the plane crashed, raising concerns about the safety of water used by residents.

The NAF 931 aircraft, which was carrying 25 people, crashed into the Igbokoda swamps on October 5, 2026. No survivors have been found, according to the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Ehimen Ejodame.

Ejodame said the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.

He added that search-and-rescue operations were immediately activated in collaboration with relevant authorities to locate and account for everyone on board.

Following the incident, the Chief of Air Staff, Kelvin Aneke, ordered a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The Ondo State Government also deployed two specialised swamp buggies to support efforts to retrieve the aircraft wreckage.

However, no bodies had been recovered as of the time of filing this report.

The monarch said the incident had left residents worried about the condition of the river, which serves as a source of water for domestic use.

“The concern of everybody in this community today is that our government spent time, energy, money, and effort looking for people that had been chopped into pieces by the crash. The pieces that are floating everywhere in our rivers. The pieces that have decayed left so much stench that is unbelievable,” he said.

He added that the situation had become frightening for children who usually swim in the river after school.

“Going close to the river is so scary now for children who usually go to swim when they return from school, because they see human flesh everywhere as they swim. Fish are also dying everywhere,” the monarch said.

He expressed concern that the river, which residents previously used for recreational activities, had become a source of fear and uncertainty.

Odidiomo explained that the same waterway supplies the treatment facility at Aboto, about seven kilometres from Igbokoda, where water is processed for drinking.

“This same river where the plane crashed into is what supplies our drinking water. We have a water treatment machine at Aboto, about seven kilometres from here. The water doesn’t come every day, and when it comes, it is this same water that flows there, pumped to be treated for our drinking,” he said.

He warned that the water could have been contaminated by decomposing bodies, oil from the aircraft or other pollutants.

The monarch called on the government to urgently clean up the affected waterway and restore the environment to prevent a possible epidemic.

He also faulted the apparent lack of measures to protect residents from the environmental consequences of the crash, saying the authorities could have cordoned off the affected area to prevent polluted water from flowing into the main river.

“We are asking the government for cleanup. We are asking the government for remediation, a kind of restoration of the environment,” he said.

Odidiomo added that environmental restoration should be part of efforts to honour those who died in the crash.

A resident, Omogbemi Damola, also expressed concern over the persistent unpleasant odour in the community since the accident.

“What happened in Igbokoda is a very sad experience. Since the accident occurred, different kinds of unpleasant odours have been carried by the breeze into our homes. I live upstairs, and I have been perceiving the smell for at least four days now,” she said.

Another resident, Oroyo Levy, described the situation as a public health concern, expressing fears about the possible effects on children and other vulnerable residents.

“We are appealing to government to act swiftly to contain the odour and prevent it from posing further health risks. The smell suggests air pollution, and we are worried about its effect, especially on children,” Levy said.

The residents called on the National Emergency Management Agency, the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency and relevant environmental authorities to intervene and prevent the aftermath of the crash from triggering a wider public health crisis.

specialist divers continue underwater search

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force said on Wednesday that specialist divers from the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority were continuing underwater search-and-recovery operations at the crash site.

In a post on X, the NAF said multi-agency teams were working around the clock, using hydrographic surveys, satellite-based search-and-rescue imagery, mud excavation and water-pumping operations to gain access to relevant areas.

The service added that additional aircraft components had been recovered as efforts continued to locate and retrieve materials for documentation and preservation in support of the ongoing investigation.

In a separate statement on Tuesday, Ejodame said the NAF recognised the public’s interest in the investigation and remained committed to providing updates as verified information became available.

He, however, said sensitive investigative information would be protected to preserve the integrity of the proceedings.

“Conclusions regarding the cause of the accident would be premature until the investigation is completed and its findings are duly considered,” he said.