The NAF plane crash in Ondo State has entered a difficult recovery phase as swampy and inaccessible terrain around Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, continues to hamper efforts to retrieve the remains of victims more than 24 hours after the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed in the area.
The aircraft, identified as NAF 931, was deeply submerged in the swamp, while thick mangroves and murky waters made it difficult for rescuers and local residents to reach the wreckage. The Nigerian Air Force has said 25 people were on board and no survivors had been found.
Key Highlights
- The NAF plane crash in Ondo occurred around Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area.
- The crashed aircraft was an ATR-42 aircraft identified as NAF 931.
- The Nigerian Air Force said 25 people were on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.
- No survivors had been found as of the latest update contained in the report.
- The aircraft is reportedly deeply submerged in swampy terrain, making recovery extremely difficult.
- NEMA has deployed a specialised search-and-rescue and technical team to the crash site.
- Heavy equipment and swamp buggies are being deployed to assist in recovering the wreckage.
- The NAF released the names of the 25 people aboard the aircraft.
- The crash has prompted the postponement of the Senate National Security Summit.
- Vice President Kashim Shettima assured the victims’ families that the Federal Government would continue to support them.
NAF Plane Crash in Ondo: Difficult Terrain Hampers Recovery
The recovery operation following the NAF plane crash in Ondo has been severely affected by the difficult terrain around the crash site.
The wreckage is located in a swampy area approximately 500 metres east of the Naval Base in Igbokoda, according to officials quoted in the report.
Thick mangroves, creeks and murky waters have restricted access to the crash site, while local residents who attempted to reach the aircraft in canoes said they could not get close enough to rescue anyone.
The difficult terrain has also delayed the recovery of the aircraft and the remains of those on board.
NAF Releases Manifest of 25 Victims
The Nigerian Air Force released the manifest of those aboard NAF 931 following the crash.
According to the Air Force, the aircraft had 25 people on board — five crew members and 20 passengers. The aircraft was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.
The five crew members listed were:
- Squadron Leader MI Aburime — Flight Captain
- Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje — Co-pilot
- Flight Lieutenant IS Bako — Co-pilot
- Warrant Officer Abubakar A — Aircraft Technician
- Corporal Uguru HC — Aircraft Technician
The 20 passengers included military personnel and civilians, among them Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus, Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye, Flying Officer IM Adeshina, Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F, Master Warrant Officer Matini BA, Warrant Officer Nuhu FS and other passengers.
NAF Plane Crash: Co-Pilot Married Two Weeks Before Tragedy
Among those who died in the crash was Squadron Leader Ahamefule Man-Ugwueje, identified in the report as the co-pilot of the aircraft.
The report said Man-Ugwueje had married in Abuja only two weeks before the crash, adding another tragic dimension to the incident.
The aircraft was reportedly deeply submerged in the swamp, further complicating efforts to recover the victims and the wreckage.
NEMA Deploys Search-and-Rescue Team to Igbokoda
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has activated a specialised search-and-rescue team to strengthen ongoing recovery efforts at the crash site.
NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar directed the agency’s Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Bature Usman, to lead a technical team to Igbokoda.
The deployment is aimed at providing additional technical and operational support to emergency responders already working at the scene.
NEMA said its personnel were coordinating with other agencies involved in the response and would provide the necessary resources to support the operation.
Heavy Equipment Needed to Recover NAF Wreckage
Ondo State Police Commissioner Felix Ohagwu described the crash site as extremely challenging because of the surrounding creeks and mangroves.
Ohagwu said recovery of the wreckage was still ongoing and that authorities were awaiting additional technical support and heavier equipment capable of pulling the aircraft from the water.
The police command was also awaiting support from NEMA and other relevant agencies to provide the equipment required for the operation.
Ondo State Health Commissioner Dr Banji Ajaka said personnel and ambulances from hospitals in Ilaje and Okitipupa Local Government Areas had also been deployed to support the search-and-rescue operation.
He urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information about the tragedy.
Locals Describe Failed Rescue Attempts
Residents of Igbokoda said they rushed towards the crash site after hearing the aircraft crash but were unable to reach the victims because of the swampy terrain.
One local diver, identified as Jomiloju, said residents sailed towards the crash location in canoes but could only see the wreckage, with a large portion of the aircraft buried deep inside the swamp.
Another resident, identified as Lucky, said community members made several attempts to reach the aircraft but were unable to rescue the occupants because the wreckage was deeply buried.
Residents also said security personnel arrived at the area in boats as efforts to secure and access the crash site continued.
Black Boxes Yet to Be Recovered
The difficult conditions have also delayed the recovery of the aircraft’s flight recorders, commonly known as black boxes.
The devices could provide investigators with important information about what happened before the crash and help determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.
However, access to the wreckage remains difficult because of the depth of the swamp and the surrounding mangrove terrain.
NAF Begins Investigation Into Crash
The Nigerian Air Force said the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, had directed a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The Air Force said search-and-rescue procedures were activated immediately after the crash and that the response was being conducted in coordination with relevant authorities.
The NAF also appealed to members of the public to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified information while the investigation and recovery operations continue.
Read also:
- Newlywed NAF Pilot Among 25 Killed In Ondo Air Force Crash
- Ondo Deploys Swamp Buggies to Recover NAF Crash Victims in Igbokoda
- Senate Postpones National Security Summit After Ondo NAF Crash
Pilot Was UNIBEN Master’s Student
The tragedy has also sent shockwaves through the University of Benin community after reports emerged that the pilot was a Master’s student in the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
According to the report, postgraduate students were saddened after learning that the pilot had been studying with them.
His class representative, Desmond Odiah, described him as a committed and gentle student who continued attending classes despite the demands of his professional responsibilities.
Senate Postpones National Security Summit
The Senate has postponed its planned National Security Summit following the NAF plane crash.
The two-day summit had been scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2026, but Senate Leader and Chairman of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said a new date would be communicated later.
The summit had been convened to examine Nigeria’s security challenges and consider practical solutions for protecting lives and property across the country.
The postponement was announced as the nation mourned those who died in the aircraft crash.
Shettima Assures Families of Federal Government Support
Vice President Kashim Shettima expressed condolences to the families of the victims and assured them that the Federal Government’s responsibility would extend beyond words of sympathy.
Shettima said the fallen personnel and passengers had made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country and promised continued support for their families.
He also commiserated with officers and personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, describing the incident as a painful loss to a professional community bound by duty and sacrifice.
The Vice President prayed for the repose of the victims and for strength for their families, colleagues and loved ones.
NAF Plane Crash in Ondo: Recovery Operation Continues
Recovery operations are expected to continue as emergency agencies deploy additional personnel, technical expertise and specialised equipment to the difficult crash site in Igbokoda.
Authorities have urged Nigerians to rely on official information and avoid spreading unverified reports while the recovery operation and investigation continue.
The NAF plane crash in Ondo has been described by officials as a national tragedy, with government agencies continuing efforts to recover the victims and wreckage and establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.
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