Fourteen days after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crashed in a swamp in Igbokoda, Ondo State, killing all 25 people aboard, the military says it is still intensifying efforts to drain water from the site to facilitate the recovery operation.
The prolonged operation has been complicated by the swampy terrain, thick mud, flooding and unstable ground at the crash site in the Obe-Rebby swamp, Ilaje Local Government Area.
In a statement issued on Monday, the NAF said continuous pumping had significantly reduced the water level, with recovery teams working to remove most of the remaining water, depending on prevailing conditions.
The military also disclosed that personnel were reinforcing the embankment with sandbags to prevent a possible collapse and stabilise the site as the dewatering operation continued.
The announcement highlights the difficult conditions confronting recovery teams two weeks after the October 5 crash, which claimed the lives of all passengers and crew members aboard the ATR 42-500 aircraft, designated NAF 931.
The aircraft crashed shortly after departing Benin City for Lagos. It had reportedly lost contact with air traffic controllers at about 9:13 a.m.
The NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the recovery mission required sustained engineering work and continuous dewatering because of the challenging environment.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, commended the personnel involved in the operation for their professionalism and determination.
The NAF also acknowledged the support of partner agencies and Hitech Construction Company, which it said had provided valuable assistance to the recovery effort.
The ongoing recovery operation comes amid questions about the aircraft’s condition before the fatal accident.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the aircraft developed an engine fault in Benin City on October 4, a day before the crash, and remained grounded overnight while technicians worked on it.
According to multiple sources who spoke to SaharaReporters, the aircraft had initially departed Abuja for Lagos on October 4, with some passengers scheduled to disembark in Benin City.
The aircraft reportedly developed an engine problem after landing in Benin, forcing it to remain there overnight for repairs.
Sources said the aircraft departed Benin for Lagos on the morning of October 5 after technicians indicated that the fault had been rectified. It crashed minutes after take-off.
SaharaReporters had also reported that the official description of the flight as a routine Benin-to-Lagos mission did not fully explain the aircraft’s preceding journey.
The aircraft’s maintenance history has also drawn attention. According to earlier reports, NAF 931 was flown to Rheinland Air Service in Mönchengladbach, Germany, in January 2022 for periodic depot maintenance and remained there for almost three years before returning to Nigeria in December 2024.
The report also noted that the aircraft had previously undergone maintenance in Scotland, while its sister aircraft, NAF 930, had undergone periodic depot maintenance in Germany.
The circumstances surrounding the engine fault reportedly experienced before the crash, the aircraft’s airworthiness and the events leading to the accident remain matters for investigation.
Following the crash, the NAF said it had ordered strengthened flight-safety oversight across its operations.
The measures include stricter monitoring of aircraft airworthiness, maintenance quality assurance, operational procedures and aircrew competence.
President Bola Tinubu has also directed a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The NAF said it remained committed to completing the recovery operation safely and methodically while supporting the ongoing investigation.
It acknowledged the pain and anguish experienced by the families of the victims and extended its condolences to them, promising to provide timely and verified updates as the operation progresses.
The military also appealed for patience and cooperation from residents of Igbokoda and other stakeholders assisting the recovery teams.
