NAF Plane Crash: Monarch, Residents Seek Evacuation Of Victims’ Remains

BY DAMILOLA ORIGBEMISUYI, TARKAA DAVID, SAMSON ELIJAH

Residents of Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, have called for the urgent removal of human remains from the site of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash, citing a foul odour spreading across the community.

They also urged the government to clean up the affected environment and provide safe drinking water amid concerns about possible contamination following the crash.

The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed into a swamp near the Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda on October 5, 2026, while on a mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos.

The accident triggered search-and-recovery operations, while concerns have grown over the recovery of human remains and the possible environmental impact on surrounding communities.

The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, said the odour had become unbearable, attributing it to human remains yet to be recovered from the river.

“The odour is extremely offensive. So many parts of the human body are floating around in the river. Some of the bodies have not been recovered. They have decomposed, and it is affecting everything,” the monarch said.

He said the situation had affected residents’ access to clean water, leaving them struggling to obtain sufficient supplies for domestic use, including cooking.

The monarch urged the government to expedite the recovery of the remaining human remains and aircraft debris, contain possible pollution and commence an environmental clean-up.

He also called for the provision of safe drinking water, stressing that residents’ welfare should not be overlooked while recovery operations continued.

A resident, Damilola Omogbemi, said the odour had spread across the community since the crash, affecting residents even inside their homes.

“What happened in Igbokoda is a very sad experience. Since the accident, various unpleasant odours have been carried 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.

Omogbemi appealed to the government to accelerate the recovery and removal of the bodies or take appropriate measures to contain the odour.

She said residents were already grieving over the tragedy and should not be left to endure further discomfort from its aftermath.

Another resident, Levy Oroyo, said the odour carried by the breeze had raised concerns about possible air pollution, even though the crash site was across the river from the community.

“We are appealing to the government to act swiftly to contain the odour and prevent it from posing further health risks to people living in the community,” he said.

Oroyo also expressed concern about possible water contamination, noting that more than a week had passed since the crash.

The residents urged the government and relevant agencies to accelerate recovery operations, assess possible environmental contamination and provide safe drinking water to protect public health.

Reacting to the concerns, the Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, said the state government was assessing the environmental and public health impact of the crash to determine the extent of possible pollution and the necessary decontamination measures.

He acknowledged concerns about possible pollution around the crash site, adding that the state government was collaborating with the Federal Government on recovery efforts.

Loko, who spoke with LEADERSHIP, said a comprehensive assessment was under way to ensure that environmental and public health concerns were addressed as quickly as possible.

NAF Constitutes 12-Member Probe Panel

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has constituted a 12-member specialist Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to establish the circumstances and causes of the crash and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.

In a statement, NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the service was intensifying efforts to support ongoing search-and-recovery operations following the accident involving its ATR-42 aircraft, NAF 931, at Igbokoda on October 5.

He conveyed the service’s condolences to the bereaved families, colleagues and others affected by the tragedy.

According to him, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has directed sustained search-and-recovery efforts alongside a comprehensive investigation.

Ejodame said Air Vice Marshal E.O.E. Ebiowe, head of the Investigation and Recovery Team, was coordinating the wider response, while Air Vice Marshal F.O. Ankeli was serving as president of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board.

The board comprises personnel with specialist expertise in aviation operations, flight safety, piloting, air traffic control, aircraft engineering, maintenance, medical services and other relevant technical disciplines.

It also includes representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), providing additional civilian aviation expertise.

The board is expected to examine operational, technical, environmental, human and organisational factors surrounding the accident.

Its work will include the systematic examination, documentation and preservation of evidence to establish the facts and determine the immediate and underlying causes of the crash.

The investigation will also assess aspects of the emergency response, including search and rescue, medical response, recovery operations and accident-site management.

According to the statement, the board will make evidence-based recommendations to address any identified deficiencies, strengthen aviation safety and reduce the likelihood of similar incidents.

The NAF said the participation of civilian aviation safety specialists underscored the importance of technical collaboration, professional scrutiny and accountability.

The service also said it remained committed to supporting the bereaved families, adding that it had established a direct help line at its headquarters, within the Office of the Directorate of Veterans Affairs, to provide next of kin with timely information.

It said administrative processes had also been activated, including meetings with affected families and other support arrangements.

The NAF acknowledged the public’s interest in the investigation and pledged to provide updates as verified information became available.

However, it cautioned against drawing conclusions about the cause of the crash before the investigation was completed and its findings considered.

The service said search, recovery and investigative operations remained priorities and pledged to implement appropriate safety recommendations arising from the investigation.

Senate Seeks Aircraft Audit, Maintenance Funds Review

Meanwhile, the Senate has called for a comprehensive audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of Nigerian Air Force aircraft following the crash.

The call followed a motion sponsored by Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West, over the accident.

According to the motion, the aircraft, identified as NAF 931, was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos when the incident occurred.

The Senate was informed that air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m. Attempts to re-establish communication through radio calls were unsuccessful, prompting a search-and-rescue operation that later located the wreckage.

Lawmakers expressed concern over recurring military aviation accidents, which they said had claimed the lives of military personnel and raised questions about aircraft maintenance, ageing fleets, operational safety procedures and airworthiness standards.

The Senate warned that a failure to conduct a transparent and comprehensive investigation could prevent authorities from identifying lessons needed to avert similar incidents.

As part of its resolutions, the chamber observed a minute’s silence in honour of the victims and extended condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of the Air Staff, the Nigerian Air Force, the Ondo State Government and the families of those who died.

It urged the NAF and the NSIB to conduct a thorough investigation into the immediate and underlying causes of the crash and called for the findings to be made public.

The Senate also mandated its committees on Air Force and Aviation to visit the crash site, engage with NAF authorities and conduct a comprehensive audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of aircraft in the presidential and military fleets.

It further urged the Federal Government to prioritise funding for routine aircraft maintenance and the replacement of ageing military aircraft to improve operational safety.

Senator Tahir Monguno, representing Borno North, seconded the motion and called on the relevant committees to conduct a detailed assessment of the Air Force’s aircraft fleet.

He said the exercise should establish the serviceability, operational readiness and airworthiness of the aircraft to help prevent future accidents.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, proposed an additionalf resolution directing the NAF leadership to submit its aircraft maintenance budgetary provisions to the relevant Senate committee for scrutiny.

Oshiomhole said the Senate needed to establish how much was allocated to aircraft maintenance and whether the funding was adequate.

Senator Titus Zam, representing Benue North-West, seconded the proposal, stressing the need to determine the amount the Air Force received for maintenance and whether the allocation was sufficient to support safe aircraft operations.

The proposed review would broaden the Senate’s inquiry beyond the technical condition of the aircraft to include the adequacy of funding for their maintenance.

The resolutions underscore the Senate’s push for greater accountability in military aviation, with lawmakers seeking answers on aircraft safety, maintenance standards and the resources available to keep the Air Force fleet operational.