Igbokoda residents face water shortage, livelihood losses after NAF crash
By Boye Oyeyemi
Residents of Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State are struggling to access drinking water and earn a living weeks after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crashed into a nearby swamp, with military restrictions preventing fishermen and other workers from returning to the affected area.
The traditional ruler of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, disclosed this in an interview, lamenting that environmental cleanup had yet to begin despite concerns raised by residents following the October 5 crash.
He said naval and Air Force personnel had barred fishermen from accessing their fishing grounds, while residents engaged in palm wine tapping and local gin production had also been forced to suspend their businesses.
According to the monarch, the community lacks a reliable source of drinking water, forcing residents to buy water from neighbouring Okitipupa for drinking, cooking and other domestic needs.
Odidiomo also expressed concern about the possible environmental and health consequences of the crash, alleging that human remains were still in the river and that a foul smell persisted around the affected area. He questioned the effectiveness of fumigation without a comprehensive cleanup.
He urged the Federal Government to remove aircraft debris and aviation fuel from the environment and ensure the area was safe before residents resumed their economic activities. He also called for compensation for those who lost property and business materials in the incident.
As an immediate intervention, the monarch appealed for the provision of water purifiers to help residents access safer drinking water. He further called for psychological support for women and children who might have been traumatised by the crash and its aftermath.
The aircraft crashed into a swamp near the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda on October 5 while travelling from Benin City to Lagos. All 25 people on board, comprising 20 passengers and five crew members, died in the incident.
