NAF Intensifies Igbokoda Wreckage Recovery

​ABUJA — Amid mounting local anxiety over environmental safety and the slow pace of retrieval following the tragic military plane crash, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed heavy-duty pumping machines to drain water and expose the deeply submerged main wreckage in Igbokoda, Ondo State.

​The crash, which involved a NAF ATR-42 aircraft flying from Benin City to Lagos and resulted in the tragic loss of 25 lives, occurred in a difficult swampy terrain near the Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda. Weeks after the disaster, local residents raised alarms over environmental pollution, offensive odors, and threats to their primary water sources.

​In response to these growing concerns, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal MC Ekwueme, visited the community on the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke. Meeting with community leaders, the AOC acknowledged public anxieties, expressed gratitude for the locals’ cooperation, and assured residents that the Air Force takes their environmental and health safety seriously.

​Speaking on the operational hurdles at the disaster zone, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, explained that the aircraft remains deeply embedded in the riverbed. He noted that specialized technical support and continuous de-watering are crucial to clearing the area safely and maintaining the utmost dignity for the victims.

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​Concurrently, the CAS has reaffirmed the service’s absolute commitment to the bereaved families. The NAF announced that comprehensive welfare packages—including benevolent funds and academic scholarships for eligible children—are being fast-tracked, alongside the creation of a dedicated helpline at NAF Headquarters to provide families with continuous, verified updates.

​The military hierarchy has promised that comprehensive environmental and public health assessments will follow immediately after the recovery phase is successfully concluded in coordination with partner agencies.