Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa says no survivor has been confirmed following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area, on Monday.
The aircraft went down in a swampy area opposite a naval base in Igbokoda while carrying out what the Nigerian Air Force described as a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos.
Aiyedatiwa said he was informed about the incident at about 10:30 a.m. by the chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, who reported that an aircraft had crashed in the area.
According to the governor, residents and personnel at the nearby naval base initially heard a sound similar to an earth tremor before witnesses saw the aircraft descend into the swamp.
He explained that naval personnel initially waited to determine whether there was any danger of an explosion or fire before entering the crash area to search for possible survivors.
Officials from the local emergency management agency, residents and personnel of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, later joined the search and rescue operation.
However, the governor said the information available to him showed that no one had been rescued.
“But from the information we got, no single life was saved up to this moment,” Aiyedatiwa said.
He said rescuers were unable to find anyone alive at the scene, although they recovered parts of the aircraft, including damaged sections of the wings.
“They could not see any living soul that was in that aircraft. But they saw the ruins, some of the breakage, the wreckage from the wings of the aircraft. Some ID cards, and then a uniform. That was when they knew it was a military aircraft,” the governor said.
Aiyedatiwa said he had continued receiving updates from his security adviser, the Ilaje council chairman and security personnel involved in the operation.
“No survivors yet, from the information I’ve gotten from the people,” he reiterated.
The governor explained that although he had not personally spoken with the naval captain leading operations at the base, his security adviser was receiving information through the Amotekun commander in the local government and the council chairman.
“From all indications, no survivor yet that we can record,” Aiyedatiwa said.
‘It’s a sad situation today’
The governor described the crash as a deeply painful incident, noting that it occurred not only in Ondo State but also in his own local government area.
He said the people aboard the aircraft were military personnel carrying out duties connected to the protection of Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
“It’s a sad situation today, and we are all really aggrieved as Nigerians, and also it happened in my own state, not just my state, even my own local government where I’m from,” he said.
“Everybody has been mourning about that which happened to Nigerian military officers who are planning to protect the territorial integrity of our country. So painful.”
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that the aircraft involved was an ATR-42 and said it was travelling from Benin City, the Edo State capital, to Lagos on a routine mission when the accident occurred.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Ehimen Ejodame, said the Air Force had activated search and rescue operations in collaboration with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
The Air Force did not initially disclose how many people were aboard the aircraft or confirm the number of casualties.
The aircraft was reportedly used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, as well as air maritime activities.
Following the crash, President Bola Tinubu directed the Nigerian Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation to establish what caused the accident and help prevent similar incidents in the future.
Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, said Tinubu described the incident as a “painful moment” for the Armed Forces and the country.
As search operations continue, authorities are expected to provide further information on the victims and the circumstances surrounding the crash.
