A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft with 32 people on board crashed on Monday in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, throwing the community into anxiety and setting off a major rescue effort.
The Air Force said 25 passengers and seven crew members were on the aircraft when it came down in a swampy area close to the Naval Base in the riverine town. The plane was on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos.
In a statement, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed that search-and-rescue operations had begun in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency agencies. He added that the service was committed to the success of the operation and would release more details as they emerged.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, corroborated the passenger and crew figures. He disclosed that the aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, vanished from radar at about 9:13 a.m., when air traffic controllers lost contact with it on the Benin-Lagos route. According to him, later information established that it had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda and that the wreckage had been found.
Even so, the fate of the 32 people had not been confirmed when this report was filed, as rescuers were still combing the site.
The Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Maurice Oripelaye, had earlier confirmed the crash, saying military equipment was found at the scene. He explained that the aircraft was badly burnt after hitting the marshy ground, which made it hard for local officials to quickly establish how many people had died or survived.
Security personnel and emergency responders have since moved to the area, while residents of Igbokoda are anxiously waiting for word on those on board. What caused the crash remains unknown, and the Air Force has promised updates as the operation continues.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
