Igbokoda Residents Raise Health Fears Over NAF Crash, Report Stench and Floating Body Parts

Residents of Igbokoda in Ondo State have raised concerns over a foul smell, possible environmental pollution and the risk of disease following a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash that occurred more than a week ago.

The residents are calling on the Federal Government, the Ondo State Government and the Nigerian Air Force to intensify recovery operations, remove the remaining human remains, clean up the affected area and ensure access to safe drinking water.

The NAF ATR-42 aircraft was travelling from Benin City to Lagos when it crashed into a swamp near the Air Force Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda on October 5. All 25 people aboard, including five crew members and 20 passengers, were killed.

Following the crash, the aircraft became submerged in the swamp, leading to a search and recovery operation involving the Nigerian Air Force, other security agencies and emergency response teams.

However, residents say the operation has yet to be completed, with community leaders alleging that decomposing human remains and aviation fuel spillage have contributed to pollution in the area.

Monarch Raises Alarm Over Floating Remains

The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, said the smell from the crash site had spread to nearby homes, creating difficult living conditions for residents.

The monarch also alleged that body parts were still floating in the river and that traces of aviation fuel could be detected beyond the immediate crash site.

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

Oba Odidiomo warned that the situation had raised questions about the condition of the river, which is used by residents for domestic activities.

“People are worried about cooking, bathing and other domestic uses. We are appealing to government to urgently remove the remaining bodies and debris, contain any fuel spillage and carry out full environmental remediation,” the traditional ruler said.

He urged the authorities to supply clean drinking water to the community until recovery and decontamination work is completed.

The monarch stressed that the needs and safety of Igbokoda residents should not be ignored while efforts to address the crash continue.

Foul Smell Spreads Into Homes

Omogbemi Damola, who lives in the community, described the aftermath of the accident as distressing, saying unpleasant smells had repeatedly entered her home.

“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.

Damola called on the state government to speed up the recovery exercise and address the stench, adding that residents had already been deeply affected by the tragedy.

Oroyo Levy, another resident, said the situation had raised concerns about public health, particularly the possible impact on children.

“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,” he said.

Levy described the incident as a painful experience for the riverine community and called on the relevant authorities to investigate its environmental effects.

He added that concerns over the river’s safety had increased anxiety among residents who depend on it for domestic activities.

Community members have also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and relevant environmental agencies to intervene to prevent possible waterborne disease outbreaks.

Government Begins Assessment of Pollution Risks

Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, said the state government was working with the Federal Government on recovery efforts and an assessment of the environmental impact.

“The state government is collaborating with the Federal Government to ensure that we carry out as much recovery as possible.

“But you know that despite the number of days the recovery effort has been ongoing, no meaningful recovery has been made. None of the corpses has been recovered.

“Shortly afterwards, concerns about pollution were raised. What we are trying to do is make a holistic assessment of the level of public health impact and determine how we can embark on decontamination efforts because the surrounding area is surely contaminated.

“So, there is a case of pollution. But we are not resting on our laurels. As I have said, we are carefully undertaking holistic assessments of the environmental impact and the public health impact of what has happened there to ensure that we address it as quickly as possible,” Loko said.

The commissioner acknowledged the need to examine the pollution concerns and determine appropriate decontamination measures, adding that the government was working to address the situation as quickly as possible.

Environment Commissioner Says Boreholes Are Available

Responding to claims that the crash had compromised residents’ drinking water, Loko argued that the concerns had been overstated because boreholes were available in the community.

“That is not the water they drink. There are boreholes around. So, the claim that the water is no longer useful is not entirely correct.

“Let me also say this: Some people insinuate that the site of the crash is close to the metropolis. Of course, the crash site is at least 500 metres away from the bulk of the metropolis. So, the issue of not having water to drink and other associated concerns is not there.

“We are not ruling out the fact that there may be cases of pollution. But to say that the people do not have water to drink as a result of the crash is not a sustainable argument or concern, so to speak,” the commissioner added.

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