Recovery teams have intensified efforts to reach the site of the NAF aircraft crash in Ilaje, Ondo State, as authorities work to locate those on board.
Recovery efforts are underway following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft in a swampy area near the Nigerian Navy Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The aircraft, identified as NAF-931, was reportedly carrying 25 people when it crashed at about 11:00 a.m. on Monday while on a routine flight from Benin to Lagos.
Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Mr Maurice Oripenaiye, said on Tuesday that a search and recovery operation had been established at the crash site.
Speaking with journalists in Igbokoda, Oripenaiye said personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Red Cross, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ondo State Emergency Management Agency and local divers were participating in the operation.
He said the difficult swampy terrain had slowed access to the crash site, with local divers using canoes reportedly providing the only immediate means of reaching parts of the area.
According to the council chairman, no bodies had been recovered as of Tuesday while efforts continued to gain access to the site.
He added that arrangements were being made to deploy heavy equipment to clear waterways and improve access for rescue and recovery personnel.
Oripenaiye said HiTech Construction Company had been contacted to provide equipment for clearing the waterways leading to the crash site.
The local government chairman also said Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had directed relevant emergency agencies to mobilise to the location and support the recovery operation.
“This is also a national disaster. So, all necessary personnel, emergency authorities including local divers are on ground to search and recover dead bodies,” Oripenaiye said.
He added that authorities were working to gain better access to the swampy area and intensify the recovery operation.
Oripenaiye expressed sympathy to the Nigerian Air Force, the families of those on board the aircraft and residents of Ilaje over the incident, describing the crash as unfortunate.
The recovery operation is expected to continue as emergency agencies and local personnel work to navigate the challenging terrain and establish access to the crash site.
There has been a discrepancy in the reported number of people killed in the NAF 931 crash. Our earlier report stated that 32 people lost their lives, based on the figure made available to journalists at the time. The Nigerian Air Force has since clarified that 25 people—five crew members and 20 passengers—were on board the aircraft, with no survivors.
We sincerely apologise for the earlier figure and any confusion it may have caused. Our report has been updated to reflect the official figure subsequently provided by the Nigerian Air Force.
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