Residents of Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have raised concerns over a worsening environmental and public health situation more than a week after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crashed into a swamp in the community.
Residents said the stench from decomposing human remains at the crash site had spread into residential areas, while traces of aviation fuel were reportedly visible on the river, raising fears of water contamination.
They have called on the government to recover the remaining bodies, remove aircraft debris, contain any fuel spill and provide safe drinking water while recovery operations continue.
The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, described the smell as unbearable and said human remains were still trapped in the swamp where the aircraft went down.
“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 said.
He warned that the situation could affect residents’ access to clean water for domestic activities, including cooking, and urged the authorities to begin urgent environmental cleanup and remediation.
The monarch also appealed for assistance for residents affected by the incident, particularly through the provision of safe drinking water.
The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, which was reportedly 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.
All 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, died in the incident.
The aircraft became submerged in the swamp, prompting search and recovery operations involving military personnel and other emergency agencies.
A resident, Omogbemi Damola, said the unpleasant smell had persisted since the crash, with the breeze carrying it into nearby residential areas.
She said she had been perceiving the odour for at least four days, despite living upstairs in a storey building.
Damola described the incident as a painful experience and urged the state government to speed up the recovery and removal of the remaining bodies and take steps to control the smell.
Another resident, Oroyo Levy, expressed concern about possible air pollution and its 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 also called for an investigation into the environmental impact of the crash, particularly the possibility of river contamination, and urged the relevant authorities to take measures to protect public health.
Residents are seeking urgent intervention to address the immediate sanitation concerns and prevent further environmental damage as recovery efforts continue.
