Residents of Igbokoda in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State have raised health concerns over a foul odour emanating from the site of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash
They called on the government to expedite recovery operations and urgently address possible environmental pollution.
The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, which was on a mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos, crashed into a swamp near the Nigerian Air Force Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda on Monday, October 5, claiming 25 lives.
The crash prompted search and recovery operations involving military personnel and other emergency agencies.
The aircraft remains submerged in the swamp, with residents expressing concern over the failure to recover the bodies and the possible effects of the incident on the surrounding environment.
The residents said the stench, which they attributed to decomposing human remains yet to be recovered from the swamp, had spread across the community, raising concerns about air quality, water contamination and potential health risks.
The traditional ruler of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, described the odour as unbearable, attributing it to decomposing human remains believed to be scattered around the crash site.
“The odour is extremely offensive. We are now seeing some inner parts of the human body floating around in the river. Some of the bodies have not been recovered. They have decomposed, and it is affecting everything,” he said.
Odidiomo also raised concerns over suspected fuel spillage, saying traces of fuel could be seen on the river some distance from the crash site.
He said the situation had heightened residents’ concerns about access to clean water for domestic use, including cooking, and called for urgent intervention to prevent further environmental damage.
He urged the government to recover the remaining human remains and aircraft debris, contain any pollution and commence an immediate environmental clean-up.
A resident, Omogbemi Damilola, said the unpleasant odour had persisted since the crash, affecting residents even inside their homes.
She said residents, who were already struggling to come to terms with the tragedy, should not be left to endure additional hardship arising from its aftermath.
“We are appealing to the government to act swiftly to contain the odour and prevent it from posing further health risks to people living in the community,” another resident, Oroyo Levy, said.
Responding to the concerns, the Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, said the state government was collaborating with the Federal Government to assess the environmental impact of the crash and determine appropriate decontamination measures.
“Shortly afterwards, concerns about pollution were raised. What we are trying to do is make a heuristic assessment of the level of public health impact and determine how we can embark on decontamination efforts because the surrounding area is surely contaminated,” the commissioner said.
Loko, however, disputed claims that the crash had deprived residents of access to drinking water, explaining that the river around the crash site was not their primary source of drinking water.
“To say that they cannot drink that water because of the pollution is not entirely correct because, initially, that water is not the water they drink. There are boreholes around,” he said.
DailyTrust
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