By George Omagbemi
IGBOKODA, Ondo State | October 14, 2026. Residents of Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, have raised concerns over an offensive stench and possible water contamination following a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash that killed all 25 people on board.
The traditional ruler of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, has appealed to the Federal and Ondo State governments to accelerate efforts to recover the victims’ remains and aircraft wreckage from the swamp where the aircraft went down on October 5.
Speaking to The Punch, the monarch said the smell from the crash site had become unbearable, with residents worried about decomposing human remains and possible aviation fuel pollution.
He also expressed concern that suspected contamination of the river could affect access to water for cooking, bathing and other household activities. He called for urgent environmental clean-up and the provision of safe drinking water to affected residents.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, said the state government was working with the Federal Government to address the situation. He noted that a delegation had visited the community to assess the environmental impact.
The crash involved an ATR-42 aircraft travelling from Benin City to Lagos. The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that the 25 people aboard (five crew members and 20 passengers) died.
Recovery operations and investigations into the crash have continued, while residents await urgent action to address the reported pollution and recover the remaining human remains.
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