Aiyedatiwa Deploys More Resources as Recovery Operation Continues at Ondo Crash Site
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has pledged continued support for the ongoing search and recovery operation at the site of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
Aiyedatiwa made the pledge on Tuesday when the Director of Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Air Commodore Bature, briefed him on the recovery efforts at the Government House in Akure.
The governor said the state government had immediately mobilised relevant agencies after receiving news of the crash while he was attending an official engagement in Abuja.
He described the incident as a national tragedy, commiserating with the families of the military personnel who lost their lives in the crash.
Aiyedatiwa also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for declaring three days of mourning in honour of the fallen personnel.
According to the governor, the recovery operation has been challenging because the crash occurred in a swampy area characterised by narrow and shallow creeks.
He commended residents of the area for assisting emergency responders by providing smaller boats to navigate the waterways and gain access to the crash site.
The governor said local residents had worked alongside the Navy and other emergency responders in efforts to rescue victims and take them to hospital, but there were no survivors.
Aiyedatiwa said he would visit Igbokoda to meet with residents and assess the ongoing recovery operation, assuring the agencies involved of the state government’s continued support.
Earlier, Air Commodore Bature disclosed that three swamp buggies had been deployed to the crash site to strengthen the recovery operation and improve access to the difficult terrain.
He said the operation involves NEMA, the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Navy and local residents.
Bature explained that the swamp buggies would be used to access the swampy area and facilitate the recovery of the aircraft wreckage and other parts of the aircraft.
He said he was in Ondo State on the directive of NEMA Director-General, Hajia Zubaida Umar, who is currently outside the country.
According to him, the NEMA Director-General directed him to meet with Governor Aiyedatiwa and commend the state government for its prompt response to the incident.
Bature also commended SEMA, the Navy, Army, Air Force, Police and residents of the affected community for their prompt response to the crash.
He said NEMA was collaborating with the state government, individuals and local residents to coordinate resources for the disaster management operation.
The NEMA director expressed confidence that the aircraft wreckage and other parts trapped at the crash site would be recovered.
Those present at the briefing included the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Gbenga Atiba; Director, Southwest, NEMA Zonal Operations, Ibadan, Dr Said Akinyele; and Assistant Secretary, SEMA, Mr F.A. Oruko.
