**Igbokoda monarch raises alarm over offensive odour, contaminated river and shortage of clean water as governments face calls to accelerate recovery and environmental cleanup.**
The monarch of Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, has appealed to the Federal and Ondo State governments to accelerate efforts to recover the remains of victims of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash in the community.
The traditional ruler raised the alarm over an offensive odour reportedly spreading across parts of the community and concerns about spilled aviation fuel contaminating the surrounding river and threatening residents’ access to clean water.
The incident followed the crash of a NAF ATR-42 aircraft in the community on Monday last week, with all 25 people on board reported killed. Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had earlier said there were no confirmed survivors, while recovery operations continued.
Speaking with a Punch correspondent by telephone, Oba Odidiomo said decomposing human remains believed to be those of some victims were still in the river days after the incident.
“The odour is extremely offensive. So many parts of the human body are floating around in the river. Some of the bodies have not been recovered. They have decomposed, and it is affecting everything,” the monarch said.
He expressed concern that the situation was worsening living conditions in the riverine community, particularly as residents struggled to obtain sufficient clean water for domestic activities, including cooking.
The monarch also raised concerns about aviation fuel spillage, claiming that traces of the fuel could be seen floating on the river some distance from the crash site.
He called on the relevant authorities to intensify efforts to recover the remaining human remains and aircraft debris, while urgently commencing environmental remediation to prevent further damage and protect residents.
The situation has raised concerns about the potential public health and environmental consequences of the crash, particularly for residents who depend on the surrounding water resources for their daily needs.
Responding to the concerns, the Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, said the state government was collaborating with the Federal Government to address the environmental consequences of the incident.
Loko said the state had dispatched a delegation to the community shortly after the crash to assess the impact and support ongoing recovery efforts.
“Shortly after the plane crash occurred, the state government sent a delegation to the place for an on-the-spot assessment of the impact of the crash on the environment. Many people were there to assist in the recovery efforts. I think that is still ongoing,” he said.
He explained that the state government was working with federal authorities because the response required coordinated action beyond the capacity of the state alone.
“What we are trying to do is support the Federal Government because it is not entirely an effort to be undertaken by the state government. The state government is collaborating with the Federal Government to ensure that we carry out as much recovery as possible,” the commissioner added.
Loko also said concerns had emerged over possible pollution and its implications for public health, adding that assessments were underway to determine the extent of the contamination and the appropriate decontamination measures.
“Shortly afterwards, concerns about pollution were raised. What we are trying to do is make a heuristic assessment of the level of public health impact and determine how we can embark on decontamination efforts because the surrounding area is surely contaminated,” he said.
The commissioner acknowledged that pollution was a concern but maintained that the government was undertaking assessments to establish the environmental and public health consequences and determine the necessary response.
“So, there is a case of pollution, but we are not resting on our oars. As I have said, we are carefully undertaking holistic assessments of the environmental impact and the public health impact of what has happened there to ensure that we address it as quickly as possible,” he stated.
With residents reportedly grappling with an offensive odour, concerns about contaminated water and uncertainty over the recovery of victims’ remains, pressure is mounting on the relevant authorities to move swiftly from assessment to effective intervention.
Beyond recovering the victims and aircraft debris, the immediate priorities include establishing the extent of any fuel contamination, ensuring residents have access to safe water and carrying out appropriate environmental cleanup.
For the people of Igbokoda, the response must address not only the tragedy of the crash but also the environmental and public health risks that may persist long after the initial incident.
