Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said no survivors have been found following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
The aircraft, an ATR-42 with 32 people on board, including 25 passengers and seven crew members, crashed on Monday while on a routine mission from Benin City in Edo State to Lagos.
Speaking hours after the incident, Aiyedatiwa said residents, security personnel and emergency responders had searched the crash site but had not found anyone alive.
The governor said people in the area heard a loud sound before witnessing the aircraft dive into a swampy area near a naval base. Nigerian Navy personnel initially stayed back to ensure there was no risk of an explosion or fire before moving into the area to assist with the rescue operation.
According to Aiyedatiwa, personnel from the local emergency management agency, residents and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun, joined the search effort. However, rescuers found aircraft wreckage, identification cards and military uniforms, but no living person.
The governor described the incident as a painful development, particularly because it occurred in his home state and local government. He expressed sympathy for the military personnel who were on duty to protect the country.
The Nigerian Air Force and other relevant authorities have continued efforts to recover the victims and investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. President Bola Tinubu has also directed the Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.
