Igbokoda’s traditional ruler has called for an urgent cleanup and an alternative supply of drinking water after the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash, saying human remains and spilled aviation fuel have polluted water used by the Ondo community.
Oba Afolabi Odidiomo said residents were struggling with an offensive smell and concerns over water for domestic use. Ondo State’s environment commissioner, Tob Loko, said the government was assessing pollution but disputed the claim that the crash had left residents without drinking water.
The concerns follow the October 5 crash of an ATR-42 aircraft in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area. Recovery teams have been searching the swamp for the wreckage and flight recorders. NaijaTrend previously reported that operation here.
Odidiomo told Premium Times on Tuesday that the river feeds a water-treatment facility at Aboto, about seven kilometres away. He said supply was intermittent and feared that human remains and fuel in the river could affect water drawn for treatment.
He urged the Federal and state governments to recover remaining human remains and aircraft debris, contain the spill and provide safe water while cleanup continued. Vanguard also reported residents’ complaints of odours reaching their homes and fears about possible health risks.
Loko told Punch that the state was working with the Federal Government on recovery and assessing environmental and public-health effects before determining decontamination measures.
In comments reported by Vanguard, the commissioner said boreholes were available and rejected the suggestion that residents no longer had water to drink. He acknowledged possible pollution but disputed the community’s account of its effect on drinking-water access.
Sources: Premium Times, Vanguard, Punch
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