Search and rescue efforts at the site of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, have yielded human remains, as the operation continued amid growing fears that there may be no survivors among the 32 people on board.
As of the time of filing this report, no survivor had been rescued from the crash site, with the aircraft believed to have plunged deep into a swampy terrain in the community.
The crash occurred between 10:30am and 11am, according to residents who witnessed the incident.
The residents said it was drizzling when the aircraft went down and that they heard a loud noise before it crashed into the swamp.
Some community members immediately mobilised and used canoes to sail to the location in an attempt to rescue the occupants.
Others reportedly swam towards the crash site, which residents said was about 30 minutes from the riverbank by canoe.
However, they said the larger portion of the aircraft had sunk into the swamp and become trapped in the difficult terrain, making rescue efforts extremely challenging.
One of the residents, Bamidele Aiyeniberu, said the community made frantic efforts to locate the aircraft and rescue those on board.
“We have tried our best to rescue them. Our people here have tried a lot. Even the women and men took their canoes and crossed to that place in order to rescue them,” he said.
Aiyeniberu added that security and emergency personnel had also arrived at the scene.
“The Navy, the neighbours, the government agents are all here. They are trying their best in order to rescue them,” he said.
Another resident, Akinto Toluwalase, said the situation became clear when they reached the crash location.
“Immediately that thing happened, there was nothing we could do. We just ran to the place. When we got there, we met some parts like human being parts,” he said.
He added that the aircraft had already disappeared into the swamp, making it impossible for residents to rescue anyone.
“We couldn’t rescue anybody because the plane had already entered the swampy area. So there is nothing we could do. We just did the video. Then we returned to the land,” Toluwalase said.
The Nigerian Air Force and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, reportedly confirmed that there was no survivor among the 32 occupants, while search and recovery operations continued.
The aircraft was said to have been on a mission from Benin to Lagos when the incident occurred.
Meanwhile, journalists who travelled from Akure to cover the incident were reportedly prevented by military personnel from accessing the crash site.
The journalists, who had travelled for about five hours from the state capital, were stopped from proceeding to the crash location as security personnel restricted access to the area.
The swampy terrain and waterlogged nature of the crash location have further complicated recovery efforts, with security agencies and other responders continuing operations to locate and recover the occupants and wreckage.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, as residents await further official information on the identities of those on board and the circumstances surrounding the crash.
