Aiyedatiwa Orders Fumigation of Igbokoda River Following NAF Plane Crash
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has directed the state ministries of environment and health to undertake extensive fumigation of the Igbokoda River following complaints from residents about a strong stench emanating from the site of last week’s Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash.
The directive is intended to prevent a possible outbreak of diseases in Igbokoda and neighbouring communities, where the river serves as a major source of livelihood.
Aiyedatiwa also instructed the authorities of Ilaje Local Government to arrange water tankers for the continuous supply of potable water to residents if the river is found to be severely polluted and unsafe for use.
According to a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, the emergency water supply arrangement will remain in place pending a permanent solution to the pollution.
The governor further directed the ministries to distribute face masks and other essential health kits to residents to reduce their exposure to potential health hazards.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Air Force’s ongoing evacuation and recovery efforts while safeguarding the welfare and health of residents in the affected communities.
The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed on 5 October 2026, with 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.
The aircraft was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when the accident occurred.
Although the relevant authorities immediately activated search-and-rescue procedures, the passengers and crew had yet to be located as of the latest update.
On Tuesday, the Nigerian Air Force constituted a 12-member board to investigate the accident.
The service said the board would determine the circumstances surrounding the crash, establish its causes, and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, ordered sustained search and recovery operations alongside a comprehensive investigation into the accident.
Air Vice Marshal F. O. Ankeli will chair the investigation board, while Air Vice Marshal E. O. E. Ebiowe, head of the Investigation and Recovery Team, will coordinate the wider response.
The board comprises specialists in aviation operations, flight safety, piloting, air traffic control, aircraft engineering, maintenance, medical services, and other technical disciplines.
Representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau are also participating to provide expertise in civilian aviation.
The NAF said the investigation would examine operational, technical, environmental, human, and organisational factors that might have contributed to the crash.
