By Lizzy Chirkpi
Recovery efforts at the site of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, have entered a critical phase, with the Nigerian Navy, Marine Police, divers and other emergency teams intensifying the search for submerged wreckage and the remains of victims.
The aircraft, identified as NAF 931, crashed into a swampy area near the Nigerian Naval Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda on Monday while on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.
The Nigerian Air Force later confirmed that all 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, died in the crash.
The difficult terrain has complicated the recovery operation, with a substantial portion of the aircraft believed to be buried or submerged in the swamp, making conventional recovery methods difficult.
As part of the expanded operation, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, on Tuesday ordered the deployment of the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Department, equipped with specialised side-scan sonar technology, to obtain a clearer picture of the underwater crash site.
The deployment came as divers and other technical teams battled poor visibility caused by the highly turbid swamp water.
The sonar equipment is being used to locate submerged sections of the aircraft and guide divers and recovery teams to areas that are difficult to access.
The Nigerian Navy and Marine Police have subsequently intensified the search for the victims’ remains and the remaining wreckage, while access to the crash site has been restricted to allow security and emergency agencies to coordinate the operation.
The operation is also being supported by Nigerian Air Force drone operators, Navy divers, emergency responders and specialised heavy equipment.
Two amphibious swamp buggies were deployed by the Ondo State Government to navigate the waterlogged terrain after conventional boats and vehicles failed to reach the deeper section where the aircraft came down.
Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, said the difficult terrain had made the recovery operation particularly challenging, adding that divers had begun retrieving portions of the wreckage.
“The divers are doing their work. We are bringing wrecks out,” Ajaka said.
“For the body, the real body, this has to go down. We have to excavate deep down for the aircraft to be brought out.”
He said the main body of the aircraft remained buried deeper in the swamp and would require further excavation before it could be recovered.
The Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, and the Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdul Suleh, inspected the crash site on Tuesday as part of efforts to coordinate the recovery operation.
The military delegation received briefings from emergency agencies and technical teams involved in the search and recovery.
The FOC urged stakeholders to remain calm and cooperate with the agencies involved in the operation, while commending the Ondo State Government, local communities and other organisations supporting the recovery effort.
The geography of the crash site remains one of the major obstacles to the operation, with creeks, mangroves and deep swamp surrounding the aircraft.
Ondo State authorities said preliminary indications suggested that the pilots diverted the aircraft away from the densely populated parts of Igbokoda before the crash, potentially limiting civilian casualties.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has ordered an investigation into the crash in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the incident as “a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation” and assured the victims’ families of the service’s support.
The NAF also urged the public to refrain from speculation and the circulation of unverified information as recovery and investigation efforts continue.
For now, the immediate priority remains the recovery of the submerged aircraft and the remains of those killed in the crash, with specialised equipment being deployed alongside divers and security personnel to overcome the difficult terrain.
President Tinubu has separately directed the Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash and take steps to prevent a recurrence.