The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has expressed deep sadness over the crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
The aircraft, an ATR-42 with tail number NGR 931, was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed in a swampy area opposite the Naval Base in Igbokoda in the early hours of Monday.
The Nigerian Air Force Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed the incident while the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board the aircraft.
Aiyedatiwa, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, expressed sympathy to the Chief of Air Staff, the Nigerian Air Force and the families of the personnel and passengers on board the ill-fated aircraft.
The governor said he had been in contact with the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force, the Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Maurice Oripelaye, and security agencies involved in the response to the incident.
He directed the State Emergency Management Agency, the Ministry of Health and relevant security agencies to immediately mobilise and provide full logistical and human support to the Nigerian Air Force and other emergency response agencies involved in the search and rescue operation.
Aiyedatiwa also directed that the crash site be cordoned off and secured to facilitate rescue efforts. He urged residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities to remain calm, cooperate with emergency responders and avoid spreading unverified information as the state government continues to monitor the situation.
