By Ghazali Ibrahim
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has ordered the fumigation of Igbokoda River following complaints from residents about a foul smell coming from the site of last week’s Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash.
The governor also directed the state Ministries of Environment and Health to distribute nose masks and other essential health kits to residents to protect them against possible health hazards.
The directives were announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku.
According to the statement, the fumigation exercise is intended to prevent a possible outbreak of diseases, as the river serves as an important source of livelihood for residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities.
Aiyedatiwa also directed the Ilaje Local Government Area to arrange water tankers to supply clean drinking water if assessments establish that the river is severely polluted and unsafe for use.
The emergency water supply arrangement will remain in place pending a lasting solution to any confirmed pollution.
The development follows the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, identified as NAF 931, in a swampy area of Igbokoda on October 5, 2026.
All 25 people aboard the aircraft, comprising 20 passengers and five crew members, died in the incident. The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when it crashed.
Recovery operations have continued at the site, with the swampy terrain and the aircraft’s submersion complicating efforts to retrieve the wreckage and victims’ remains.
The government said it would continue supporting the Nigerian Air Force’s recovery efforts while taking measures to protect residents.
However, the government has not publicly confirmed whether environmental tests have established the extent of contamination in the river.
