Amphibious excavators have been deployed to recover victims of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crash in the riverine area of Igbokoda, Ondo State. The recovery operation, which began on Tuesday, is being carried out in collaboration with various emergency responders, including the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Marine Police, Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), NSCDC, Amotekun, and FRSC. The operation aims to evacuate victims and recover the wreckage from the crash site.
The crash occurred on Monday, with the aircraft carrying 32 people, including 25 passengers and seven crew members, crashing into a swampy river area in Igbokoda in the early hours of the day. According to Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, CP Felix Ohagwu, there are no confirmed survivors yet, and security agencies and emergency responders have intensified efforts to recover victims and wreckage. Ohagwu noted that rescuers faced significant difficulties accessing the crash site due to the creeks and mangrove terrain.
The police commissioner commended officers and other security personnel involved in the operation and revealed that he had to use a canoe to assess the site. He stated that the recovery of the wreckage was still ongoing and that authorities were awaiting additional technical support and heavier equipment capable of pulling the aircraft from the water. The police are expecting support from the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant agencies to aid in the recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, journalists attempting to access the crash site were allegedly prevented from covering the rescue operation. Some journalists, particularly from Agency France-Presse (AFP), were reportedly arrested by military personnel, while others were barred from proceeding towards the crash location. This move has raised concerns about the transparency of the rescue operation.
State Commissioner for Health in Ondo State, Banji Ajaka, deployed medical personnel and ambulances from hospitals in Ilaje and Okitipupa Local Government Areas to the crash site. He spent hours at the site with the Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Igbokoda, and local divers. Ajaka criticised the circulation of unverified videos and information about the crash, urging the public not to politicise the incident or circulate unverified information.
Ajaka described the incident as a national disaster and commended the FOB commander and his personnel, as well as medical workers from various hospitals involved in the operation. He stated that the search and rescue operation would continue with the deployment of swamp buggies and other specialised equipment. The crash site is located about 500 metres east of the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
The incident has been met with an outpouring of support from various stakeholders, with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa directing the deployment of medical personnel and resources to the crash site. The government has promised to provide support to the families of the victims and to investigate the cause of the crash. Key efforts are focused on recovering the wreckage and victims, with multiple agencies involved in the rescue operation.
Key points
- Amphibious excavators have been deployed to aid in the recovery efforts.
- No survivors have been confirmed yet, according to the Commissioner of Police.
- Journalists were allegedly prevented from covering the rescue operation.
