Aiyedatiwa backs NAF crash recovery operation

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has pledged the state government’s full support for the ongoing recovery operation following the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, with NEMA deploying swamp buggies to access the wreckage. Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has pledged the full support of the state government to agencies involved in the search and recovery operation...

• Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has pledged the state government’s full support for the ongoing recovery operation following the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, with NEMA deploying swamp buggies to access the wreckage.
• Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has pledged the full support of the state government to agencies involved in the search and recovery operation following the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area.Aiyedatiwa made the commitment when the Director of Search and Rescue at the National Emergency Management Agency, Air Commodore Bature, briefed him at the Government House in Akure.The governor said he immediately directed relevant state authorities to mobilise after receiving news of the incident while on an official engagement in Abuja.He described the crash as a national tragedy and a major loss to the country, saying the officers who died had paid the ultimate price in service to Nigeria and in defence of its territorial integrity.Aiyedatiwa commiserated with the victims’ families and acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of three days of mourning for the fallen personnel.The governor said recovery efforts had been hampered by the difficult terrain, with the crash site located in a swampy area surrounded by narrow and shallow creeks.According to him, local residents have been assisting the operation by using smaller boats to navigate the creeks and provide access to the crash site.He said residents worked alongside the Navy and other responders in attempts to rescue the occupants and take them to hospital, but there were no survivors.Aiyedatiwa said he would travel to Igbokoda to meet with residents and ensure that the recovery operation continued.He thanked NEMA, the military, local government authorities and residents for their efforts and assured the agencies involved of the state government’s continued support.NEMA deploys swamp buggiesEarlier, Air Commodore Bature disclosed that NEMA had deployed three swamp buggies to the crash site to strengthen the recovery operation.He said the operation involves NEMA, the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency, the Nigerian Air Force, the Navy and local residents.The swamp buggies are being deployed into the swamp to enable recovery teams to reach the crash location and retrieve the aircraft wreckage and other parts trapped in the difficult terrain.Bature said he was in Ondo State on the instruction of NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar, who was outside the country.He said the NEMA director-general directed him to meet Aiyedatiwa and appreciate the governor for his prompt response to the crash.Bature also commended SEMA, the Navy, Army, Air Force, police and local residents for their response to the incident.He said NEMA was working with the state government and residents to coordinate resources for the recovery operation and expressed confidence that the aircraft wreckage would eventually be recovered.The crash involved Nigerian Air Force aircraft NAF 931, which disappeared from radio contact while travelling from Benin towards Lagos before crashing near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
• Federal authorities initially reported 25 passengers and seven crew members aboard.The difficult recovery operation is expected to provide investigators with access to the wreckage and potentially important evidence needed to establish the circumstances and cause of the crash.