By Clement Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has assured residents of Igbokoda in Ondo State that it will work with environmental and public health authorities to assess possible environmental hazards arising from the crash of its aircraft, following complaints of an offensive odour in the affected community.
The assurance was contained in a statement released on the NAF’s official X handle on Thursday, October 15, 2026, and signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.
The Air Force acknowledged residents’ concerns about the reported odour and fears of possible environmental impact, saying it recognised the discomfort, anxiety and uncertainty the incident had caused in the community.
It explained that search and recovery operations were still ongoing, adding that it was working with relevant partner agencies to ensure the safe and orderly recovery of the aircraft wreckage.
According to the statement, the NAF would engage appropriate environmental and public health authorities, alongside other relevant agencies, to assess the situation and coordinate necessary interventions after the recovery operation had been completed.
The military service said it remained concerned about the wellbeing of residents and was committed to engaging relevant stakeholders to ensure that appropriate measures were taken to protect public health, safety and the environment.
Precise Post recalls that the aircraft, identified as an ATR-42 with tail number NAF 931, crashed on Monday, October 5, 2026, in a swampy area of Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, while on a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos. The aircraft reportedly crashed near a Naval Forward Operating Base after air traffic controllers lost contact with it.
The NAF subsequently confirmed that all 25 people on board — five crew members and 20 passengers — died in the accident. Search and recovery operations have continued amid efforts to retrieve the wreckage and critical evidence from the crash site.
On October 13, the Air Force announced the constitution of a 12-member Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to establish the circumstances and cause of the crash and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
