.....Residents Demand Urgent Recovery Of Human Remains, Environmental Cleanup And Safe Water As Ondo Government Admits Pollution Concerns

IGBOKODA, ONDO STATE — Residents of Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, have raised the alarm over a persistent offensive odour, alleged water contamination and fears of a possible disease outbreak more than a week after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crashed into a swamp in the community.

The residents said decomposing human remains, reports of body parts floating in the river and concerns over aviation fuel pollution have heightened anxiety across the riverine community, prompting renewed calls for urgent intervention by the Federal Government, the Ondo State Government and the Nigerian Air Force.

The aircraft, identified as an ATR-42, reportedly crashed into a swamp near the Air Force Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda on Monday, October 5, 2026, while flying from Benin City to Lagos.

The crash reportedly claimed the lives of all 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.

Following the incident, the Nigerian Air Force, other security agencies and emergency responders commenced search-and-recovery operations at the swamp where the aircraft submerged.

However, residents and community leaders say the aftermath of the tragedy has created additional environmental and public health concerns, with complaints about the stench spreading into residential areas and uncertainty surrounding the safety of nearby water sources.

Body Parts Reportedly Floating As Community Raises Environmental Alarm

The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, expressed concern over the situation, saying the offensive odour had spread beyond the immediate crash site and was affecting residents in surrounding areas.

According to the monarch, human remains were still reportedly visible in the river, while traces of fuel could be observed some distance from the wreckage.

He warned that the situation had become increasingly distressing for residents, particularly those who depend on the surrounding waterways for domestic activities.

“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.

Oba Odidiomo explained that the situation had generated fears over possible contamination of the river and its implications for the wellbeing of residents.

He appealed to the relevant authorities to intensify recovery operations, remove remaining human remains and debris, investigate possible fuel contamination and undertake a comprehensive environmental cleanup.

The monarch also called for the immediate provision of potable water to affected residents pending the completion of recovery operations and environmental assessments.

He stressed that the welfare of the host community should receive urgent attention alongside efforts to recover the victims of the crash.

Residents Complain Of Persistent Stench In Their Homes

Residents living around the affected waterways described the situation as distressing, saying the unpleasant odour had continued to enter their homes days after the crash.

Omogbemi Damola, a resident of Igbokoda, said she had been experiencing the offensive smell even inside her upstairs apartment.

“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.

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

Damola appealed to the Ondo State Government and other relevant authorities to expedite recovery operations and implement measures to control the odour.

She said residents had already endured significant emotional distress following the tragedy and should not be left to contend with additional environmental difficulties.

Another resident, Oroyo Levy, described the situation as a potential public health concern requiring urgent attention.

“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 urged the authorities to investigate the environmental consequences of the crash and provide clear information about the safety of the surrounding environment.

Levy added that uncertainty over the condition of the waterways had heightened anxiety among residents, particularly those who depend on them for domestic purposes.

The residents called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and relevant environmental and public health agencies to intervene.

They said urgent action was necessary to establish the extent of any contamination, protect vulnerable residents and prevent potential public health complications.

Ondo Government Admits Pollution Concerns, Promises Assessment

Reacting to the concerns, the Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, said the state government was collaborating with the Federal Government to ensure that recovery operations and environmental assessments were carried out.

The commissioner acknowledged that concerns over pollution had emerged following the crash but said the authorities were working to determine the extent of the environmental and public health impact.

He also indicated that the recovery effort had not yielded the expected results, despite the number of days spent at the site.

“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.

According to him, the government was undertaking a broader assessment to establish the nature and extent of the contamination and determine the appropriate measures for environmental remediation.

“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.

“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,” he added.

The commissioner's remarks underscore the environmental concerns surrounding the crash, although the full extent of any contamination and its implications for residents remains to be established through appropriate testing and assessment.

Commissioner Disputes Claims Of Drinking Water Shortage

However, Loko disputed claims that the crash had left residents without drinking water, arguing that boreholes were available in the community.

He maintained that the crash site was some distance from the main residential areas and questioned suggestions that residents had lost access to drinking water because of the incident.

“That is not the water they drink. There are boreholes around. So, the claim that the water is no longer useful is not entirely correct,” he said.

The commissioner further stated that the crash site was approximately 500 metres away from the bulk of the metropolis.

He said the government was not dismissing the possibility of pollution but maintained that claims about a lack of drinking water should be considered alongside the availability of alternative sources.

“We are not ruling out the fact that there may be cases of pollution. But to say that the people do not have water to drink as a result of the crash is not a sustainable argument or concern, so to speak,” Loko added.

His comments highlight a difference between the government's position on the availability of alternative water sources and residents' concerns about the environmental condition of the waterways.

The availability of boreholes, however, does not by itself establish whether nearby rivers have been contaminated or whether any alternative water sources require testing.

Questions Remain Over Recovery Operations And Environmental Safety

More than a week after the crash, residents' concerns have placed renewed attention on the effectiveness of the recovery operation, the management of human remains and the need for transparent environmental monitoring.

Key questions remain about the status of the recovery effort, whether aviation fuel or other substances have contaminated the surrounding waterways, and what immediate measures are being taken to protect residents while assessments continue.

There are also calls for relevant authorities to communicate their findings clearly, particularly regarding water quality, air quality and any precautions residents should take until the