ONDO: Aircraft Reportedly Crashes in Igbokoda
By Olusegun HOSEA
An aircraft has reportedly crashed into the swampy area at Oluwa Glass Beach side forest in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
According to a source, the number of victims involved was 32, with no survivors, as security personnel around the area prevented journalists from entering the forest where the incident happened. Information reaching us was that the aircraft took off from Benin and was heading to Lagos for an official assignment before the unfortunate incident occurred.
Speaking, the Chairman of Ilaje Local Government, Mr Maurice Oripenaye, confirmed the crash. He told journalists that security personnel were on the ground at the scene of the incident. However, an identity card belonging to one of the victims had been found, but they could not say for now which security personnel was identified on the ID.
According to the source, naval officers were already on the waterway, trying to ascertain the latest development around the area where the crash occurred.
Akinte Omotere Toluwalase, one of the eyewitnesses who spoke with us, provided evidence of the footage he took and the pictures at the spot after the incident, before the security personnel arrived. He said that when the incident happened, he rushed to the scene to see what had happened and took some pictures, but there was nothing they could do to rescue the victims. According to him, the aircraft had already sunk into the swamp, and there was nothing they could do other than take pictures and make a video.
Prince Bamidele Ayenuberun, another eyewitness, said the incident occurred this morning while it was raining. He said they could not ascertain the type of aircraft involved, but they knew that something had crashed there. He added that they had tried their best to rescue the victims but to no avail.
Narrating the incident, Bamidele said that when it happened, most people in the community, both men and women, took canoes to the area to see if they could rescue the victims. However, they could not do anything because they did not know exactly where the crash had occurred.
As it is now, the Ondo State rescue team is already on the ground to assess the situation, together with other security personnel, probably to take action on how to remove the aircraft from the swamp.
