Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has ordered the fumigation of a river in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area, following complaints of a foul odour after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crashed into a nearby swamp.
The governor also directed the provision of potable water, nose masks and other essential health kits to residents amid concerns about possible water contamination and public health risks.
The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the Ministries of Environment and Health had been directed to begin extensive fumigation to prevent a possible disease outbreak.
Aiyedatiwa also directed the Ilaje Local Government Council to arrange water tankers for continuous distribution of clean water if assessments confirm that the river is severely polluted and unsafe for use. The arrangement is expected to remain in place until a lasting solution is implemented.
The intervention follows complaints from residents who depend on the river for drinking, cooking and fishing. The traditional ruler of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, said the incident had disrupted access to their main water source and raised concerns about the community’s health and livelihoods.
The NAF ATR-42 aircraft crashed into a swamp near the service’s Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda last Monday while on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos. All 25 people on board, including five crew members and 20 passengers, reportedly died.
Recovery operations are ongoing at the crash site, with difficult terrain hampering efforts to retrieve the wreckage and victims’ remains. The Ondo State Government said it would continue supporting the recovery efforts while prioritising the safety and welfare of residents in the affected community.
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