Livelihood Losses, Health Fears Grip Ondo Communities Over NAF Jet Crash

Days after the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, residents are grappling with livelihood losses and fears over possible health risks arising from the incident.

Fishing, a major occupation in Igbokoda and neighbouring riverine communities, has been disrupted by concerns over the condition of the surrounding waterways, with fishermen reporting reduced catches and fish traders lamenting scarcity and rising prices.

The development has heightened anxiety among residents who depend on the waterways for their livelihoods, while complaints about an offensive odour around the crash site have raised concerns about possible environmental contamination and its implications for public health.

A fish trader, Bidemi Ikuesan, said she returned home empty-handed after visiting the Igbokoda fish market last Sunday because of the shortage of fish.

“Last Sunday, I went to the market to buy fish, but very small quantities were available at the market in Igbokoda because we learnt that the fishermen did not go to the water to fish due to the incident that happened.

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“So I went back home empty-handed. We are calling on the government to find solutions to the problem. Our means of livelihood is being affected,” she said.

Another fish trader, Tosin, said the scarcity had pushed up prices, forcing buyers to pay more for the available supplies.

“Last week, when I went to the Igbokoda fish market, I bought fish at a higher price. Fish that would normally cost around N20,000 was sold for over N35,000 because fishermen said they were unable to get the quantity of fish they usually catch,” Tosin said.

A fisherman, who identified himself as Akintunde Ikulajolu, said he now travelled farther from Igbokoda in search of better catches because of what he described as the deteriorating condition of the water following the crash.

‎”We could not get better fish around this area again because the water has spoiled due to the plane crash. I have to go very far from the area to catch better fish, and this is very strenuous unlike before.

‎”In fact, something has to be done to this matter. It is affecting our business,” he said.

‎Beyond the economic consequences, residents have expressed concern over the possible effects of the incident on their health and the safety of their water sources.

‎The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, said the offensive odour around the crash site had become unbearable, calling on the authorities to expedite recovery operations and address the environmental concerns.

‎”The odour is extremely offensive. Some of the bodies have not been recovered. They have decomposed, and it is affecting everything,” the monarch said.

‎He said the situation had raised concerns about residents’ access to clean water for domestic use, including cooking, and urged the government to provide alternative sources of safe drinking water while recovery operations continued.

‎A resident of Igbokoda, Damilola, said the odour had persisted for days, affecting residents even inside their homes.

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

‎Another resident who identified herself as Loveth, expressed concern about possible air and water pollution, noting that the smell had spread across the community despite the crash site being across the river.

‎She said “We can hardly breathe as a result of the bad odour oozing out from the site. If nothing is done, this can affect our health. Even though I’m not a doctor, but I know it’s bad for our health when we continue to breath in bad air.”

‎She urged the authorities to act swiftly to address the situation and assess possible environmental and public health risks.

‎Meanwhile, the Ilaje Fishermen Association, Igbokoda, has called on the Federal Government to undertake an urgent clean-up of the affected area and compensate members who have suffered losses.

‎In a statement signed by its chairman, Festus Ikuomola, the association alleged that aviation fuel spilled during the crash had contaminated the water and creeks, threatening fish and other aquatic life.

‎The association said the situation had placed the livelihoods of its members at risk and appealed to the Federal Government and relevant agencies to intervene.

‎”We, the members of the Ilaje Fishermen Association, Igbokoda community, Ondo State, hereby implore the Federal Government to carry out an urgent clean-up exercise and pay adequate compensation following the aircraft crash and fuel spillage in our community.

‎”The crash resulted in a massive spillage of aviation fuel, which has contaminated our water and creeks. The spillage will have a devastating effect on fishes and other aquatic life in the area, thereby threatening our only source of livelihood. We passionately appeal to the Federal Government and relevant authorities to intervene immediately,” the statement read.

‎Responding to the concerns, the Ondo State Government said it would conduct air and water quality tests at the crash site to determine the extent of possible contamination and guide the necessary intervention.

‎The Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had directed him and the Commissioner for Health to expedite action on measures to address the environmental concerns.

‎Loko said the government would conduct a spot assessment of the affected area before determining the appropriate measures to protect residents and their sources of livelihood.

‎”That is why we are mobilising to the site for the spot assessment. We are going to assess the level of contamination that has taken place.

‎”And as a matter of fact, we are going to undertake air quality tests, water quality tests, so that we determine with precision, and of course, surgical precision, the level of contamination that has taken place,” he said.

‎The NAF ATR-42 aircraft crashed into a swamp near the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda on October 5 while travelling from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos. All 25 people on board, comprising 20 passengers and five crew members, died in the incident.

‎As recovery efforts and environmental assessments continue, residents are calling for urgent action to address the situation, protect their health, restore confidence in the safety of the waterways and provide relief to fishermen and traders whose livelihoods have been disrupted.