NAF crash: Ondo, NEMA deploy swamp buggies as recovery, evacuation efforts intensify

The Ondo State Government has deployed swamp buggies to assist in the recovery of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking with journalists at the crash site.

Ajaka said the swamp buggies were deployed because the aircraft had sunk deep into the swamp, making it difficult for rescuers to reach the wreckage.

He said the aircraft crashed about 500 metres east of the Nigerian Naval base in Igbokoda after the pilots diverted it away from the community.

“Let’s start with a real story. It’s not news for the whole country that aircrafts are carrying about 32 persons. 25 passengers and 7 crew members making 32. That’s a serious situation.

“That’s a fact. It must be verified. This is a verified fact. So, crash landed and dived into the forest close to the Naval base. About 500 meters east of the Naval base. And I think from the eye witness, the thing would have caused a terrible accident in the whole of the Igbokoda community.

“But for the bravery of the pilots, they diverted the thing away from the community. So that it landed in the forest close to the community.”

The commissioner said the search and rescue operation had continued since Monday, with the state government, security agencies and local authorities involved.

“So, since that yesterday, the search and rescue operation is going on. We joined, you know, the CO of the forward operation base in Igbokoda and we’ve been on rescue operations.

“The state government deployed, you know, the entire Ministry of Health. Since yesterday, I’m representing the chairman of the local government, the officers of the local government agencies, SEMA, the environmental, you know, safety officers, and everybody. You know, we’ve been at the scene since yesterday.”

Ajaka said the swamp buggies were brought in because conventional vehicles and boats could not reach the location of the wreckage.

“The latest is that the swamp buggy has been deployed. Has been ordered to go there. Because that’s what’s needed now. The swamp buggys, you can see two of them here now.

“It’s not an easy thing. It’s not something that you can… It’s not just a vehicle that will go. Or a speedboat that will just go.

“You can see. And this one comes with a low bed. I brought it. This one, I have to bring all of this. To float and swim down to the other side. So that they will get to the depth of where the body of the aircraft is.”

He said the force of the crash had caused the aircraft to sink deep into the swamp.

“It has gone down. You know the force now. The weight and the force with which it went down. 

“So, that is what we’re doing now. There is no delay. We are doing… We are deploying as fast as possible.”

Ajaka said the state Commissioner for Environment and senior military officers were also at the scene to coordinate the recovery operation.

“You can see the Honorable Commissioner of Environment is here too. You know. Having deployed, you know, the swamp bogey.

“We are all coordinating the activities with the CO Forward Naval Operation Base. You can also see that the CO Western Naval Command has just come. And the operation officers the air force.

“You know. Two star generals. Two of them. They were around. And we went to the site. You know.”

The commissioner said divers were working at the site and had started bringing out parts of the wreckage.

“We see rescue. The divers are doing their work. We are bringing wrecks out.

“For the body. The real body. This has to go down. Excavate deep down for the thing to be brought down.

“We have not seen a major body. We have not seen. By the time we bring the body out, we will be able to see the corpses.”

He described the incident as a sad situation and commiserated with the Nigerian Air Force, the Armed Forces and the people of Ondo State.

“So it’s a sad situation. We commiserate with Nigerian Air Force. We commiserate. We commiserate with all Nigerians. We commiserate with the entire armed forces.

“And the people of our state. And the thing that happened in our state. We pray that God will not allow this kind of thing to happen in our country anymore.”

Ajaka said the recovery operation would continue.