RismadarVoice Reporters
October 14, 2026
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has ordered environmental and public health interventions in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area, following complaints of an offensive smell around the river where a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed on October 5.
The governor directed the state Ministries of Environment and Health to commence fumigation of the affected area and distribute nose masks and essential health supplies to residents as concerns grow over possible contamination.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, announced the directives in a statement on Wednesday, explaining that the measures were intended to protect residents while search and recovery operations continued.
According to the government, the Igbokoda River is an important source of livelihood for surrounding communities, making an assessment of its environmental condition necessary.
Aiyedatiwa also instructed the Ilaje Local Government Council to arrange alternative drinking water supplies through water tankers if investigations establish that the river is unsafe for domestic use.
The governor said the emergency water supply would continue as necessary while authorities worked towards addressing any confirmed contamination.
The intervention follows the reported crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, registration NAF 931, in a swampy area near Igbokoda.
The aircraft was reportedly travelling from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when the incident occurred on October 5. Reports indicated that all 25 occupants, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, died in the crash.
Residents subsequently complained of a persistent offensive smell around the affected waterway, prompting concerns about possible environmental and public health consequences.
The traditional ruler of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, had called for urgent government intervention, particularly over fears of contamination associated with the aircraft wreckage, aviation fuel and the recovery of victims’ remains.
Recovery operations have reportedly been complicated by the swampy terrain and the aircraft’s submerged position.
The Ondo State Government said amphibious equipment had been deployed to support personnel from the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, emergency management agencies and local diving teams involved in the operation.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has reportedly constituted a 12-member board of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the recovery operation and protecting the health and livelihoods of residents.
The government has not announced laboratory findings establishing the extent of any contamination in the river. Further environmental assessments are therefore necessary to determine the appropriate remediation measures and whether restrictions on water use are required.
