The Ondo State Government has ordered the fumigation of creeks and mangrove areas in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, following concerns over possible water contamination after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crashed into a swamp in the coastal community.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa also directed the provision of potable water to residents if assessments confirm that the affected river is severely polluted and unsafe for domestic use.
The intervention follows complaints by residents over a strong stench emanating from the crash site, with fears that the condition of the river could expose the community to public health risks.
The river serves as a major source of water and livelihood for residents, many of whom depend on it for drinking, cooking, fishing and other daily activities.
The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, which was on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos, crashed into a swamp near the Nigerian Air Force Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda last Monday.
All 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, were killed in the incident.
Following the crash, the aircraft sank into the swamp, triggering search and recovery operations involving military personnel and other emergency response agencies.
However, efforts to retrieve the wreckage and recover the victims’ bodies have been hampered by the difficult terrain, despite intensive operations by divers and rescue teams.
Excavation work is continuing at the site, with additional machinery being deployed to facilitate the removal of the remaining parts of the aircraft. 
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, said Aiyedatiwa had directed the Ministries of Environment and Health to commence extensive fumigation of the affected river to reduce the risk of a disease outbreak.
According to Ajanaku, the directive was prompted by complaints from residents about the unpleasant odour emanating from the waterway where the aircraft crashed.
He said the intervention was necessary because the river plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of residents in Igbokoda and neighbouring communities.
“Following complaints by residents of Igbokoda over the strong stench emanating from the river where the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed last week, Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has directed the Ministries of Environment and Health to commence extensive fumigation of the river.
“The directive is aimed at preventing a possible outbreak of diseases, as the river serves as a major source of livelihood for residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities.
“The governor also directed the Ilaje Local Government to arrange water tankers for the continuous distribution of potable water to residents if the river is found to be severely polluted and unsuitable for use,” the statement read.
Ajanaku explained that the distribution of potable water would continue until a lasting solution was implemented to address the pollution concerns.
He added that the governor had also instructed the Ministries of Health and Environment to provide residents with nose masks and other essential health kits to protect them against potential environmental and health hazards.
The state government, he said, remained committed to supporting the Nigerian Air Force in its ongoing efforts to evacuate the wreckage and recover the victims while ensuring the safety and welfare of residents in the affected community.
The fumigation exercise and planned water distribution are expected to provide immediate relief to residents as recovery operations continue at the crash site.
