Rescue teams have launched an intensive operation to recover victims and the wreckage of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft that crashed in a swampy, riverine area of Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The recovery operation began on Tuesday, more than 24 hours after the aircraft went down, with emergency responders battling difficult terrain, dense mangroves and challenging water conditions to reach the crash site.
The operation involves personnel from the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Marine Police, Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ondo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amotekun Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other emergency response agencies.
The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, who addressed reporters in Igbokoda, said there was no confirmed survivor as of the time of the briefing.
Ohagwu said security agencies and emergency responders had intensified efforts to locate and recover the victims, while also working to retrieve sunken aircraft wreckage.
He said access to the crash site had been particularly difficult because of the tortuous network of creeks and the thick mangrove vegetation surrounding the area.
“What happened yesterday was quite unfortunate. It’s a very difficult terrain, the creeks, mangroves. Accessing the site of the crash was not easy,” he said.
The police commissioner disclosed that he had to use a canoe to personally assess the crash site. He commended the security personnel and other responders who had remained involved in the recovery efforts since the incident occurred.
According to him, recovery of the wreckage was still ongoing, with authorities awaiting additional technical support and heavier equipment capable of pulling the aircraft out of the water.
Ohagwu also said the police were expecting further assistance from NEMA and other relevant agencies to strengthen the recovery operation.
Meanwhile, journalists attempting to reach the crash location were reportedly prevented from covering the rescue operation.
Some journalists, including personnel of Agence France-Presse (AFP), were allegedly arrested by military personnel, while others were reportedly stopped from proceeding towards the crash site.
The development has raised concerns over access to information as rescue agencies continue efforts to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crash and recover those involved.
The aircraft crashed in the early hours of Monday while carrying 32 people — 25 passengers and seven crew members — when it went down in the swampy riverine area of Igbokoda.
Health commissioner deploys medical teams, ambulances.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, also disclosed that he spent several hours at the crash site working with the Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Igbokoda, and local divers involved in the search and rescue operation.
Ajaka said he had deployed medical personnel and ambulances from hospitals across Ilaje and Okitipupa Local Government Areas following a directive from Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
“I have been in the forest with CO FOB Igbokoda for search and rescue operation. I have deployed personnel and ambulances from all the hospitals in Ilaje and Okitipupa LGAs as directed by Mr Governor,” he said.
He disclosed that the crash site was located approximately 500 metres east of the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
The commissioner also cautioned members of the public against sharing unverified videos, photographs and reports about the incident, saying some of the footage circulating online was not recorded near the actual crash site.
Ajaka described the incident as a national disaster and urged the public to refrain from politicising the tragedy or spreading unconfirmed information while the recovery operation was still underway.
“This is a national disaster that we shouldn’t play politics with. Please let’s tarry and wait for verified information,” he said.
He added that the search and rescue operation would continue, with authorities preparing to deploy swamp buggies and other specialised equipment to gain better access to the crash site.
Ajaka commended the FOB commander and his personnel, as well as medical workers from the State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa; General Hospital, Igbokoda; Comprehensive Health Centre, Igbokoda; and other health facilities participating in the emergency response.
The recovery operation is expected to continue as emergency agencies work to locate the victims and retrieve the aircraft wreckage from the difficult riverine terrain.
