Search Teams Take Action at Military Plane Crash Site in Ondo State

The search and rescue team at the crash site of the Nigeria Air Force aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State has changed its search plan. They are building embankments around the crash area to stop water from flowing in. This will help rescuers access the remaining parts of the aircraft easily.

Adeleye Temitope, one of the operators of the Swamp Buggies, shared this during a visit by PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday. He said the machines are digging through heavy mud to create an embankment. This will help lower the water level and allow divers and rescuers to reach the lower areas.

Rescuers making their way into the site

“The work is still ongoing and the swamp buggies are helping us lift the mud to the heights needed to keep the areas clear,” Mr Temitope said.

The NAF ATR-42 aircraft crashed into the swamp at Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday, 5 October. This crash killed 25 people on board. It is thought to have fallen deep into the mud.

PREMIUM TIMES previously reported that the divers and rescue teams had intensified their search for the plane’s black box and the bodies of the victims.

On Tuesday morning, when our reporter visited the site, there were signs of the black box. This is now the main focus of the search operation.

Naval officials were also seen at the site using Geological Information Systems (GIS) to map the area. This mapping will help them reach the rest of the wreckage.

The operation is also focused on removing all trees and other debris that could slow down the process. They want to keep the crash area completely free of obstacles.

Other technicians who visited the site shared stories of how the area smells bad. They said it is no longer safe for people to stay there for long periods.

“You can go there to see what is going on, but to stay for more than 10 minutes is not good at all because of the way the place smells,” one technical official, who wanted to remain unnamed, said.

Odunsola Dada

However, Odunsola Dada, who is known as General and has been part of the rescue operation from the start, said, “the smell should not really be a thing of serious concern since the rescue must be done.”

“We all smell, and we will all die, so no matter what the situation is, someone will have to go down there and bring the dead out,” Mr Dada said.

“We are going to continue to work until we remove what is remaining.”