The traditional ruler of Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, has called on the Federal and Ondo State governments to intensify efforts to retrieve the remains of victims of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in the community, warning that the incident has left residents grappling with environmental concerns.
Recall that a NAF ATR-42 aircraft crashed in the area last Monday, with at least 25 people reportedly on board. Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had earlier disclosed that no survivors had been confirmed, as search and recovery operations continued.
In a the telephone, Odidiomo expressed concern over the persistent stench in the community since the crash, saying it was believed to be coming from human remains still submerged in or floating on the river, according to The PUNCH.
The monarch also drew attention to the possible environmental consequences of aviation fuel spillage, alleging that fuel from the crashed aircraft had contaminated parts of the surrounding area.
He said, “The odour is extremely offensive. So many parts of the human body are floating around in the river. Some of the bodies have not been recovered. They have decomposed, and it is affecting everything.”
According to Odidiomo, the situation has disrupted residents’ access to clean water, making it increasingly difficult for households to obtain sufficient supplies for everyday activities, including cooking.
He further noted that traces of aviation fuel were visible on the river at locations some distance from where the aircraft went down, raising concerns about the possible spread of contamination beyond the immediate crash site.
The monarch appealed to the two levels of government to speed up efforts to recover the outstanding human remains and wreckage, while also initiating an immediate environmental remediation exercise to protect residents from potential health risks.
Reacting to the concerns, the Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, said the state government was working with the Federal Government to manage the aftermath of the crash and address its environmental implications.
Loko explained that a state government delegation had visited the community shortly after the incident to evaluate the damage to the environment and assist with the ongoing recovery operation.
He said, “Shortly after the plane crash occurred, the state government sent a delegation to the place for an on-the-spot assessment of the impact of the crash on the environment. Many people were there to assist in the recovery efforts. I think that is still ongoing.
“What we are trying to do is support the Federal Government because it is not entirely an effort to be undertaken by the state government. The state government is collaborating with the Federal Government to ensure that we carry out as much recovery as possible.”
The commissioner disclosed that the search operations had yet to yield any recovered bodies, despite the efforts made in the days following the crash. He added that the government was examining the scale of the suspected contamination and the potential implications for public health.
He said, “Shortly afterwards, concerns about pollution were raised. What we are trying to do is make a heuristic assessment of the level of public health impact and determine how we can embark on decontamination efforts because the surrounding area is surely contaminated.
“So, there is a case of pollution, but we are not resting on our oars. As I have said, we are carefully undertaking holistic assessments of the environmental impact and the public health impact of what has happened there to ensure that we address it as quickly as possible.”
