Residents of Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area in Ondo State, are raising concerns over worsening environmental and public health conditions more than a week after a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed into a swamp in the community.
The residents say the stench from decomposing human remains has spread into residential areas, while suspected aviation fuel spillage may have contaminated the river. They are calling for the urgent recovery of the remaining bodies, environmental cleanup and provision of safe drinking water.
The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, described the situation as unbearable, attributing the persistent odour to human remains allegedly still trapped in the swamp where the aircraft crashed.
The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when it crashed into a swamp near the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda on October 5, 2026. All 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, died in the incident.
Following the crash, the aircraft became submerged in the swamp, prompting search and recovery operations involving military personnel and other emergency agencies.
The monarch also expressed concern about possible fuel contamination, noting that traces of fuel could be seen on the river some distance from the crash site.
“The odour is extremely offensive. So many parts of the human body are floating around in the river. Some of the bodies have not been recovered. They have decomposed, and it is affecting everything,” Odidiomo said.
He warned that the situation had raised serious concerns about residents’ access to clean water for domestic purposes, including cooking. He urged the government to recover the remaining human remains, remove aircraft debris, contain any fuel spillage and begin environmental remediation to prevent further contamination.
The monarch also appealed for the immediate provision of safe drinking water while recovery operations continued, stressing the need to protect residents affected by the tragedy.
A resident, Omogbemi Damola, said the unpleasant smell had persisted since the crash, with the breeze carrying it into nearby residential neighbourhoods.
“What happened in Igbokoda is a very sad experience. Since the accident, different kinds of unpleasant odours have been carried around by the breeze. I live upstairs in a storey building, and I have been perceiving the smell for at least four days now,” she said.
Damola urged the state government to speed up the recovery and removal of the bodies and take urgent steps to control the odour, adding that residents should not be subjected to further distress following the tragedy.
Another resident, Oroyo Levy, said the persistent stench had heightened fears about air pollution and its possible health effects on people living in the community.
“We are appealing to the government to act swiftly to contain the odour and prevent it from posing further health risks to people living in the community,” he said.
Levy described the incident as a painful experience for the community and called for immediate government intervention to prevent additional problems arising from the crash.
He also raised concerns about possible water contamination, noting that more than a week had passed since the incident. He urged the relevant authorities to investigate the environmental impact of the crash and implement measures to safeguard public health.
