NAF 931 CRASH:AIYEDATIWA ORDERS RIVER FUMIGATION, HEALTH KITS FOR IGBOKODA RESIDENTS

The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has ordered the extensive fumigation of the Igbokoda River and the distribution of nose masks and other health kits to residents following complaints about the offensive stench emanating from the site of last week’s Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash.

The Igbokoda river fumigation directive followed growing concerns over possible environmental pollution and health risks as recovery operations continue at the crash site in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of the state .

THE DIRECTIVE

In a statement on Wednesday signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, the governor directed the Ministries of Environment and Health to commence extensive fumigation of the river to prevent a possible outbreak of diseases.

The statement read: “Following complaints by residents of Igbokoda over the strong stench emanating from the river where the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed last week, Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has directed the Ministries of Environment and Health to commence extensive fumigation of the river”.

The government said the intervention was necessary because the river serves as a major source of livelihood for residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities.

Aiyedatiwa also directed the Ilaje Local Government Area to arrange water tankers to supply potable water to residents if the river is found to be severely polluted and unsuitable for use.

“The arrangement is to remain in place pending a lasting intervention to address the pollution,” the statement added.

The governor further directed the Ministries of Health and Environment to distribute nose masks and other essential health kits to residents to protect them from potential health hazards.

THE CONTEXT: WHAT RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN SAYING

The directive came after days of complaints from residents about the stench from the river, which they said had made life unbearable and raised fears of disease.

The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, had described the situation in stark terms: “The odour is extremely offensive and unbearable. So many parts of human bodies are floating around in the river. Some of the bodies have not been recovered, they have decomposed and it is affecting everything”.

Residents said body parts were floating in the water, and traces of aviation fuel were visible on the river some distance from the wreckage site.

Omogbemi Damola, a resident, said she had been perceiving the foul odour in her upstairs apartment for days.

Oroyo Levy, another resident, said the situation had gone beyond discomfort to a public health concern: “We are appealing to government to act swiftly to contain the odour and prevent it from posing further health risks. The smell suggests air pollution and we are worried about its effect, especially on children”.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, had earlier acknowledged the pollution: “Shortly afterwards, concerns about pollution were raised. What we are trying to do is make a holistic assessment of the level of public health impact and determine how we can embark on decontamination efforts because the surrounding area is surely contaminated”

THE CRASH

The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed into a swampy area of Igbokoda on October 5, 2026, during a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos.

The incident claimed the lives of all 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. The recovery operation has been complicated by the swampy terrain and the aircraft’s submersion in the water.

The state government deployed amphibious swamp machines to support the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, emergency response agencies and local divers in accessing the site and retrieving the wreckage and victims’ remains.

The Nigerian Air Force has intensified search and recovery efforts and constituted a 12-member board of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. The Federal Government had earlier ordered an investigation into the incident.

WHY IT MATTERS

The governor’s directive addresses the immediate concerns of the community but leaves important questions unanswered.

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The government did not state whether tests had confirmed contamination of the river or when the fumigation exercise would begin.

The distribution of potable water is contingent on the river being found unsuitable for use, but no timeline was provided for when that determination would be made.

For the residents of Igbokoda, the wait continues. They have already endured the trauma of the crash. They now face the daily reality of a polluted environment and the fear of disease.

The fumigation, when it begins, will address the stench. But it cannot bring back the dead. It cannot undo the pollution.

And it cannot answer the question that residents are still asking: how much longer will this go on?

ValidViewNetwork reports that the governor has directed the fumigation and distribution of health kits. The timeline for implementation remains unclear.