More than a week after a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed into a swamp in Igbokoda, headquarters of the Ilaje Local Council Area of Ondo State, residents are facing a worsening environmental and public health situation, with decomposing human remains and spilled aviation fuel said to be contaminating the river.
The persistent foul odour from the crash site has spread into residential neighbourhoods, forcing residents to demand the urgent recovery of remaining human remains, an environmental cleanup, and the provision of safe drinking water to prevent further hardship.
The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, described the situation as imperative, stating that the stench had become unbearable and blaming it on human remains still trapped in the swamp where the aircraft went down.
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 Navy Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda on October 5, with all 25 people on board — five crew members and 20 passengers — dead in the incident.
The aircraft became submerged in the swamp, prompting search and recovery operations involving military personnel and other emergency agencies.
The monarch also raised alarm over possible fuel pollution, noting that traces of fuel were visible on the river some distance from the crash site.
“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,” the monarch stated.
The traditional ruler said the contamination had raised serious concerns about access to clean water for domestic activities, including cooking, and urged the government to remove the remaining human remains and aircraft debris, contain any fuel spillage, and begin environmental remediation to prevent further pollution.
He also appealed for the provision of safe drinking water while recovery operations continued, stressing the need to address the welfare of residents affected by the incident.
A resident, Omogbemi Damola, said the foul odour had persisted since the crash, with the breeze carrying it into residential areas.
“What happened in Igbokoda is a very sad experience. Since the accident, different kinds of unpleasant odours have been carried around by the breeze. I live upstairs in a storey building, and I have been perceiving the smell for at least four days now,” she said.
Damola urged the state government to speed up the recovery and removal of the bodies and take measures to control the odour, stressing that residents should not face further distress following the tragedy.
Another resident, Oroyo Levy, said the stench had heightened concerns about possible air pollution and its health implications for people living in the community.
“We are appealing to the government to act swiftly to contain the odour and prevent it from posing further health risks to people living in the community,” he said.
Levy described the incident as a painful experience for the community and called for urgent intervention to prevent further problems arising from the crash.
He also expressed concern about possible water contamination, noting that more than a week had passed since the incident, and urged relevant authorities to investigate the environmental impact of the crash and take measures to protect public health.
