Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has disclosed that search and rescue teams have not found any survivor following the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area.
Aiyedatiwa made the disclosure during an interview with Channels Television on Monday, saying residents, security operatives and emergency responders had searched the crash site without finding anyone alive.
The governor said he was informed of the incident at about 10:30am after receiving a call from the chairman of the affected local government area.
According to him, residents living across the river from the Nigerian Navy base in Igbokoda heard a loud noise before witnessing the aircraft descend into a swampy area.
Aiyedatiwa explained that naval personnel initially waited to determine whether the crash had triggered a fire or explosion before approaching the site.
“When they noticed that it’s just an accident, they didn’t see any sign of fire. So they moved in, trying to see if they could rescue the people,” he said.
The governor said personnel from the local emergency management agency, residents and members of the Amotekun Corps subsequently joined the operation to search for survivors.
He, however, said the search had not yielded any positive result.
“But from the information we got, no single life was saved up to this moment. They could not see any living soul that was in that aircraft,” Aiyedatiwa said.
According to the governor, search teams recovered fragments of the aircraft, including parts of its wings, identification cards and military uniforms.
He said the items helped establish that the aircraft involved in the crash was a military plane.
“But they saw the ruins, some of the wreckage from the wings of the aircraft, you know, some ID cards, I was told, and then uniform. That was when they knew it was a military aircraft,” he said.
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Aiyedatiwa described the crash as a painful incident, noting that it occurred not only in Ondo State but also in his own local government area.
“So it’s a sad situation today. And we’re all really, really agreed as a Nigerian. And also it happens in my own state, not just my state, even in my own local government where I’m from,” he said.
The governor also expressed sympathy for the affected military personnel, describing them as officers tasked with protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
“It happens to Nigerian military officers who are assigned to protect the territorial integrity of our country and, you know, involving such, you know, accidents. So, so painful. So painful, but so sad,” he added.
The Nigerian Air Force had earlier confirmed that an ATR-42 aircraft with registration number NGR 931 crashed in Igbokoda while carrying out a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board.
The Nigerian Air Force said search and rescue operations were still ongoing following the crash.