Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, says no survivor has so far been found following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
The governor disclosed this on Monday during an interview with Channels Television, saying residents, security personnel and emergency responders had been searching the crash site for possible survivors.
Aiyedatiwa said he was informed about the incident at about 10:30 am after receiving a call from the chairman of the affected local government area.
According to him, residents living across the river from the Nigerian Navy base in Igbokoda heard a loud noise and subsequently saw the aircraft plunge into a swampy area.
He said the Navy initially approached the location cautiously to determine whether the crash had resulted in a fire or explosion before commencing rescue efforts.
“When they noticed that it’s just an accident, they didn’t see any sign of fire. So they moved in, trying to see if they could rescue the people,” the governor said.
He added that officials from the state emergency management agency, residents and members of the Amotekun Corps joined the search operation.
However, Aiyedatiwa said the search had not produced any evidence of survivors as of the time of the interview.
“But from the information we got, no single life was saved up to this moment. They could not see any living soul that was in that aircraft,” he said.
The governor said search teams recovered portions of the aircraft, including pieces of its wings, identification cards and military uniforms.
He explained that the recovered items helped establish that the aircraft involved was a military plane.
“But they saw the ruins, some of the wreckage from the wings of the aircraft, you know, some ID cards, I was told, and then uniform. That was when they knew it was a military aircraft,” Aiyedatiwa said.
The governor described the crash as a painful incident, noting that it occurred not only in Ondo State but also in his home local government area.
“So it’s a sad situation today. And we’re all really, really agreed as a Nigerian. And also it happens in my own state, not just my state, even in my own local government where I’m from,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa also expressed sympathy for the military personnel involved in the crash, saying they were serving the country by protecting its territorial integrity.
“It happens to Nigerian military officers who are assigned to protect the territorial integrity of our country and, you know, involving such, you know, accidents. So, so painful. So painful, but so sad,” he added.
The Nigerian Air Force had earlier confirmed that an ATR-42 aircraft with registration number NGR 931 crashed in Igbokoda while operating a routine flight from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard the aircraft.
The Nigerian Air Force said search and rescue operations were ongoing.
