NAF 931 air disaster: Stench from decomposing bodies unsettles Igbokoda residents…Air Force sets up investigating committee 

By Kingston Magare 13.10.2026
Residents of Igbokoda Ondo State have been overwhelmed by the stench of decomposing bodies of the Nigeria Air Force 931 air crash victims.
A week after the crash rescuers are yet to recover the bodies of the victims and the aircraft black box itself, and according to the traditional ruler of Igbokoda Oba Afolabi Odidiomo the environment is now a potential health hazard from the nauseating odour.
“The odour is extremely offensive and unbearable. So many parts of human bodies are floating around in the river. Some of the bodies have not been recovered, they have decomposed and it is affecting everything.
“People are worried about cooking, bathing and other domestic uses. We are appealing to government to urgently remove the remaining bodies and debris, contain any fuel spillage and carry out full environmental remediation,” Oba Odidiomo told Vanguard.
The plane an ATR-42 aircraft carrying 25 passengers and crew crashed into the swampy terrain after a potential engine failure during a routine flight from Benin to Lagos on October 5.
Ondo State commissioner for environment Tob Loko, it has been most difficult recovering the bodies despite the best efforts of rescuers.
“But you know that despite the number of days the recovery effort has been ongoing, no meaningful recovery has been made. None of the corpses has been recovered.
“Shortly afterwards, concerns about pollution were raised. What we are trying to do is make a holistic assessment of the level of public health impact and determine how we can embark on decontamination efforts because the surrounding area is surely contaminated.
“So, there is a case of pollution. But we are not resting on our laurels. As I have said, we are carefully undertaking holistic assessments of the environmental impact and the public health impact of what has happened there to ensure that we address it as quickly as possible,” he said.
Meanwhile the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has set up a 12-member board to investigate the disaster.
According to the statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Air Vice Marshal FO Ankeli will head the investigation board, while Air Vice Marshal EOE Ebiowe, head of the Investigation and Recovery Team, will coordinate the wider response.
The board comprises specialists in aviation operations, flight safety, piloting, air traffic control, aircraft engineering, maintenance, medical services and other technical fields.