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Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has directed the Ministries of Environment and Health to fumigate the Igbokoda River after residents complained of a strong odour from the site where a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed last week.
The directive is to prevent a possible outbreak of disease, as the river serves as an important source of livelihood for residents of Igbokoda and surrounding communities.
Aiyedatiwa also directed the Ilaje Local Government authorities to provide water tankers for the continuous distribution of potable water if tests show that the river is severely polluted and unsafe for use.
The arrangement will remain in place until a permanent solution to the pollution is found, according to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku.
The governor further ordered the relevant ministries to distribute nose masks and other essential health kits to residents to protect them from potential health risks.
Aiyedatiwa also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Air Force’s ongoing search and recovery efforts while safeguarding residents of the affected community.
The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, NAF 931, crashed on October 5, 2026, while carrying 25 people, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.
The aircraft was reportedly conducting a routine flight from Benin City in Edo State to Lagos when the accident occurred.
Search-and-rescue operations were launched immediately after the crash, but the passengers and crew had yet to be located.
The Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday constituted a 12-member board to investigate the accident.
The Service said the board would determine the circumstances and cause of the crash and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, also ordered continued search and recovery operations alongside a comprehensive investigation.
Air Vice Marshal FO Ankeli will chair the investigation board, while Air Vice Marshal EOE Ebiowe, who heads the Investigation and Recovery Team, will coordinate the broader response. The board includes specialists in aviation operations, flight safety, piloting, air traffic control, aircraft engineering, maintenance and medical services, among other technical areas.
Representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau are also part of the panel to provide civilian aviation expertise.
The NAF said the investigation would examine operational, technical, environmental, human and organisational factors that may have contributed to the crash.
