Residents of Igbokoda in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State recounted the moments when a [Nigerian Air Force](https://www.nigerianairforce.mil.ng) ATR‑42 aircraft plunged into a swamp near their coastal community on Monday.
Witnesses who spoke to Daily Trust said they heard a powerful explosion emanating from the waterways as panic spread among the crowd gathered there.
They reported seeing bodies, fragments of the plane and personal effects strewn across the water‑logged crash site.
The aircraft, later identified by the Air Force as an ATR‑42 bearing tail number NGR 931, was on a routine flight from Benin to Lagos carrying 32 occupants – 25 passengers and seven crew members – when it struck the swamp opposite the naval base at Igbokoda.
Community leader Hosea Maha said the first sign of trouble was the explosion.
"We were fishing on the other side of the river when we heard a huge blast in the water. We rushed to the scene around 10 a.m. and realised something had happened," he told reporters.
Maha added that the swampy terrain prevented locals from reaching the wreckage.
"We could not get close because the water was too deep for our boat, but we saw body parts scattered along the shore. We immediately informed the naval officers," he said.
Oluboyo Olusola, another resident who managed to approach the area, described seeing aircraft debris, clothing and human remains.
"I was there after the incident and saw many things – pieces of the plane, parts of bodies and clothes. Some of the bodies were still in the water," Olusola said.
He noted that several of the garments appeared to belong to women and children.
"We even saw children’s clothing and women’s attire among the wreckage," he added.
For Abayomi Festus, the swampy creek made it difficult to get close to the site.
"We heard a very loud sound where the accident occurred, but the swamp prevented us from reaching it. We could only watch from a distance," he explained.
He said security forces later arrived while residents waited anxiously for updates.
"The police and military came for rescue, but it seemed the occupants had already perished," Festus said.
Another witness, Akinte Oluwatere, said the aircraft sank deep into the swamp, leaving no chance for locals to rescue anyone.
"The plane was already in the swamp, so there was nothing we could do," he said.
He added that naval personnel arrived shortly after and joined the effort to access the crash location.
"They arrived about 30 minutes after 10 a.m. and entered the area with us, but by then there was nothing we could do to save anyone," Oluwatere noted.
Ayedugbe Abel said heavy rain at the time further hampered attempts to pinpoint the exact crash spot.
"It was raining around 10:30 a.m. We only heard a sudden roar and did not know whether it was a plane, jet or helicopter. We knew something had fallen," he said.
He said community members immediately mobilised, using canoes and even swimming to try to reach the wreckage.
"Women and men took canoes to cross the water and look for survivors, but the terrain made it impossible to locate the exact spot," Abel explained.
Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of Ilaje Local Government, Taiwo Sadare, who accompanied officials to the scene, confirmed that the local government, naval personnel and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were involved in the response.
"The chairman, naval officers and NEMA teams were moving to the crash site. A helicopter from Abuja was deployed to monitor the situation and locate the wreckage," Sadare said.
He said early information suggested poor weather may have contributed to the accident.
"The pilot was trying to manoeuvre in bad weather, which affected the aircraft. It caught fire before crashing into the swamp near the naval base," Sadare reported.
The exact cause, however, had not been officially determined at the time of reporting.
Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, the traditional ruler of Igbokoda, said the crash location prevented a potentially larger tragedy.
"I prayed that it was not a passenger plane because many lives could have been lost if it had hit the town. We thank God it fell in the swamp instead," the monarch told Daily Trust.
He added that there were no survivors reported at the time of his interview.
"So far, there have been no survivors," he confirmed.
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, through his Chief Press Secretary Ebenezer Adeniyan, expressed sorrow over the incident and conveyed condolences to the Air Force and the families of those on board.
**Official response**
The [Nigerian Air Force](https://www.nigerianairforce.mil.ng) confirmed the crash and said it had launched a search‑and‑rescue operation.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo also confirmed that air‑traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m.
Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the Force was committed to the success of the ongoing rescue efforts and would provide further details as they become available.
Keyamo reiterated that the aircraft, registration NGR 931, disappeared while en route from Benin to Lagos at roughly 9:13 a.m., prompting controllers to alert authorities after radio contact failed.
He later confirmed that the wreckage had been located near the Igbokoda naval base and that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board.
The minister clarified that regulation of military aircraft falls outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
He said he had spoken with Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke and pledged the ministry’s full cooperation with the Air Force’s investigation.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed grief over the crash and ordered an immediate, thorough investigation by the Air Force.
Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga relayed the president’s condolences to the families of the 32 victims, to Air Marshal Aneke and to all Air Force personnel.
Tinubu also declared three days of national mourning, directing flags to be flown at half‑mast nationwide.
He promised that the names of the fallen officers would be released after families were notified.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) offered technical assistance to the Air Force, including the use of its Flight Safety Laboratory for recovery and analysis of flight‑recorder data, should the Air Force formally request it.
NSIB Director‑General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. said the bureau would support the investigation while emphasizing that responsibility for the probe rests with the military, given the aircraft’s status.
The bureau urged the public to rely solely on official updates from the Air Force regarding rescue operations and any forthcoming investigation.
**Historical context**
Daily Trust notes that this incident adds to roughly 20 recorded military aircraft crashes in Nigeria since 2015, listing several previous accidents involving NAF helicopters, trainer aircraft and fixed‑wing planes.
The latest tragedy underscores ongoing concerns about aviation safety within the Nigerian armed forces.