Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has said no survivor has been found following the Ondo military plane crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Igbokoda. The incident occurred in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
According to The PUNCH, Aiyedatiwa disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television on Monday. He said residents, security personnel and emergency responders had searched the Ondo military plane crash site without finding anyone alive.
Governor recounts first reports
Aiyedatiwa said he received information about the crash at about 10.30am after the chairman of Ilaje Local Government contacted him.
According to him, residents living across the river from the Nigerian Navy base in Igbokoda heard a loud sound. Afterward, they saw an aircraft dive into a swampy area.
He said naval personnel initially observed the scene to determine whether there was a fire or explosion. Later, they moved towards the wreckage.
“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,” Aiyedatiwa said.
No living person found yet
The governor said personnel of the local emergency management agency, Amotekun Corps and residents later joined security personnel in searching the area.
“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.
He stressed that search and rescue operations were still ongoing after the Ondo military plane crash.
Wreckage, ID cards found
Aiyedatiwa said searchers discovered parts of the aircraft, including pieces of its wings, identification cards and military uniforms.
“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,” he said. Indeed, the Ondo military plane crash has deeply affected the local community.
The governor described the incident as particularly painful because it occurred in his home state and local government area.
“So it’s a sad situation today,” he said.
He also expressed sympathy for the military personnel aboard the aircraft. He described them as officers serving to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
32 people reportedly aboard aircraft
The Nigerian Air Force had confirmed that an ATR-42 aircraft with tail number NGR 931 crashed in Igbokoda. It was on a routine mission 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 continuing at the crash site. Ultimately, further updates are expected about the Ondo military plane crash.
Authorities have yet to announce a final casualty figure.
