NAF PLANE CRASH: IGBOKODA RESIDENTS LAMENT STENCH, FEAR DISEASE OUTBREAK, AS BODY PARTS FLOAT

More than a week after a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft plunged into a swamp in Igbokoda, Ondo State, killing all 25 people on board, residents say they are now trapped in a second tragedy: the slow, agonising aftermath of a crash that refuses to end.

Body parts are still floating in the river. The stench of decomposition has invaded homes. And fear of disease is spreading through the community faster than the odour itself.

The residents are appealing to the Federal Government, the Ondo State Government and the Nigerian Air Force to urgently evacuate the remaining human remains, clean up the environment and provide safe drinking water.

THE CRASH AND ITS AFTERMATH

The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed into a swamp near the Air Force Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda on Monday, October 5, 2026.

The plane was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when it went down, killing all 25 people on board, five crew members and 20 passengers.

The aircraft submerged deep into the swamp, prompting a joint search and recovery operation involving the Air Force, other security agencies and emergency responders .

More than a week later, residents say that operation is far from concluded.

“THE ODOUR IS EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE”

The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, 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,” the monarch said.

He said the stench from the crash site had spread to residential areas, making life unbearable for residents. Traces of aviation fuel could be observed on the river some distance from the wreckage site, he added.

The river, which serves as a major source of water for domestic use, is now a source of fear.

“People are worried about cooking, bathing and other domestic uses,” Oba Odidiomo said. “We are appealing to government to urgently remove the remaining bodies and debris, contain any fuel spillage and carry out full environmental remediation”.

He also called for the immediate provision of potable water for residents pending the conclusion of recovery and clean-up operations, stressing that the welfare of the host community should not be overlooked.

THE HUMAN COST: LIVING WITH THE DEAD

For residents living near the river, the experience has become a daily torment.

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

“What happened in Igbokoda is a very sad experience. Since the accident occurred, different kinds of unpleasant odours have been carried by the breeze into our homes,” she said.

“I live upstairs and I have been perceiving the smell for at least four days now”.

She appealed to the state government to expedite action on the recovery of bodies and measures to control the stench, noting that the community has already suffered enough trauma from the incident.

Another resident, Oroyo Levy, said the situation has 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,” Levy said.

He described the crash as an unusual and painful experience for the riverine community and urged authorities to investigate the environmental impact of the incident to avert another crisis .

Levy added that more than a week after the tragedy, uncertainty over water safety has heightened anxiety among residents who depend on the river.

THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE

Reacting to the concerns, the Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, said the state government was collaborating with the Federal Government to ensure maximum recovery.

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“The state government is collaborating with the Federal Government to ensure that we carry out as much recovery as possible. But you know that despite the number of days the recovery effort has been ongoing, no meaningful recovery has been made. None of the corpses has been recovered,” Loko said.

He acknowledged the pollution concerns.

“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,” he said.

“So, there is a case of pollution. But we are not resting on our laurels. As I have said, we are carefully undertaking holistic assessments of the environmental impact and the public health impact of what has happened there to ensure that we address it as quickly as possible”.

WHY IT MATTERS

The Igbokoda crash was a national tragedy. Twenty-five families lost loved ones serving their country. The nation mourned. President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning.

But for the people of Igbokoda, the tragedy did not end when the plane hit the water. It continues every time the wind blows the stench of decomposition into their homes. It continues every time a mother hesitates before using river water to cook for her children. It continues every time a body part surfaces in the water where they once fished.

The recovery operation may be technically complex. The swamp is deep. The wreckage is submerged. The Nigerian Air Force has said recovery is ongoing .

But residents are asking a simple question: how much longer?

They are not asking for much. They are asking for the remains of the dead to be recovered and buried with dignity. They are asking for water they can drink without fear. They are asking for the environment to be cleaned so they can return to their normal lives.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the Igbokoda community is appealing for urgent intervention from the Federal Government, the Ondo State Government, the Nigerian Air Force, NEMA and SEMA. The people of Igbokoda have already buried too much. They should not have to bury their way of life as well.