Military seals off Ondo crash site as recovery efforts continue

By Boye Oyeyemi

Military personnel have maintained a heavy presence around the site of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, as efforts to secure the wreckage and support recovery operations continue.

The aircraft crashed into a swampy area on Monday while reportedly on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos, prompting the deployment of armed security personnel to the location.

The crash site was illuminated with halogen lamps through the night, while soldiers kept watch around the area to prevent unauthorised access and possible interference with evidence at the scene.

Residents said the security personnel remained at the site until daybreak, although it was unclear whether active search and recovery operations continued throughout the night.

The Nigerian Air Force had earlier confirmed that the aircraft was involved in an accident and that search-and-rescue operations had been activated, with relevant authorities coordinating the response.

Residents said the incident occurred between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., after which the aircraft was reportedly no longer visible on radar.

However, the swampy terrain has posed a major challenge to the recovery operation, with part of the aircraft reportedly submerged and no heavy equipment immediately visible at the scene to facilitate the extraction of the wreckage.

As of Tuesday, journalists and other unauthorised persons were still being denied access to the crash site, while authorities continued efforts to recover the victims, secure the area and preserve the scene for further investigation.