RismadarVoice Reporters
October 7, 2026
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has deployed additional resources to support ongoing search and recovery operations at the site of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area.
Aiyedatiwa pledged the state government’s continued support to emergency and security agencies involved in the operation during a meeting with the Director of Search and Rescue at the National Emergency Management Agency, Air Commodore Bature.
Bature briefed the governor on the recovery operation, which involves NEMA, the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Navy and residents of Igbokoda.
Aiyedatiwa said he was attending an official engagement in Abuja when he received information about the crash and immediately directed relevant state authorities to mobilise resources to the area.
The governor described the incident as a national tragedy and expressed condolences to the families of the military personnel who died in the crash.
He said the officers had paid the ultimate price in service to Nigeria and acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of three days of mourning for the personnel.
Aiyedatiwa said recovery efforts had been complicated by the terrain surrounding the crash site, which consists largely of swamps, narrow waterways and shallow creeks.
According to him, residents have been assisting security and emergency personnel with smaller boats capable of navigating the difficult waterways.
“The residents worked with the Navy and other responders in attempts to rescue victims and take them to hospital for treatment, but there was no survivor,” the governor said.
Aiyedatiwa said he would visit the community and assured emergency agencies that the state government would continue providing logistical and other necessary support until the recovery operation was completed.
He commended NEMA, military personnel, local government authorities, emergency responders and residents for their efforts since the incident.
Bature disclosed that three swamp buggies had been deployed to the area to improve access to the crash site.
He said the heavy equipment would assist recovery teams in navigating the swamp and retrieving the aircraft wreckage and other materials trapped in the difficult terrain.
Bature said he travelled to Ondo State on the directive of NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar and conveyed the agency’s appreciation to the governor for the state government’s response.
He also commended SEMA, the Nigerian Navy, Army, Air Force, Police and residents who have participated in the operation.
According to him, NEMA is coordinating with the state government, security agencies, individuals and residents to mobilise resources required for the recovery effort.
He expressed confidence that the remaining wreckage and other parts of the aircraft would be recovered as operations continue.
