The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, has raised the alarm over human body parts still floating in a river following the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, expressing concern over the offensive odour and possible environmental contamination.

The monarch said the decomposing remains of victims had made life unbearable for residents, with the stench spreading from the crash site into surrounding residential areas.

“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,” Oba Odidiomo said.

The development comes more than a week after the NAF ATR-42 aircraft crashed into a swamp near the Air Force Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda on October 5, killing all 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.

The aircraft was flying from Benin City to Lagos when the incident occurred, triggering a joint recovery operation involving the Nigerian Air Force, security agencies and emergency responders.

However, the monarch said the continued presence of human remains in the river had heightened concerns about the safety of the water, which residents rely on for domestic activities.

He appealed to the Federal Government, Ondo State Government and the Nigerian Air Force to intensify recovery efforts, remove the remaining bodies and aircraft debris, contain any fuel spillage and undertake a comprehensive environmental clean-up.

Oba Odidiomo also called for the provision of potable water to residents pending the completion of recovery and decontamination operations.

Residents have similarly expressed concern over the impact of the offensive odour.

A resident, Omogbemi Damola, said unpleasant smells had been entering her upstairs apartment for days since the crash.

Another resident, Oroyo Levy, described the situation as a public health concern, urging the authorities to act swiftly to prevent further environmental damage and possible disease outbreaks.

Reacting, the Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, acknowledged concerns about pollution around the crash site, saying the state government was collaborating with the Federal Government to assess the environmental and public health implications.

He said the authorities were undertaking a comprehensive assessment to determine the appropriate decontamination measures, while acknowledging that the surrounding area was contaminated.

However, Loko disputed claims that residents had been left without drinking water, saying boreholes were available in the community the government's response, residents are demanding the urgent recovery of the remaining human remains and a thorough clean-up of the affected area to address the stench and fears of contamination.