Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said no survivor has been found following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, on Monday.

Aiyedatiwa disclosed this while speaking on Channels Television, saying the aircraft crashed in a swampy area opposite a naval base in Igbokoda.

The governor said he received news of the crash around 10:30am from the chairman of Ilaje LGA, who informed him that an aircraft had gone down in the area.

According to him, residents and personnel at the naval base initially heard a loud sound resembling an earth tremor before witnesses saw the aircraft plunge into the swamp.

He said Navy personnel delayed entering the crash site until they were certain there was no danger of an explosion or fire, after which they commenced a search for survivors.

Personnel from the local emergency management agency, residents and operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun, also joined the rescue operation.

“But from the information we got, no single life was saved up to this moment,” the governor said.

“They could not see any living soul that was in that aircraft. But they saw the ruins, some of the breakage, the wreckage from the wings of the aircraft. Some ID cards, and then a uniform. That was when they knew it was a military aircraft.”

Aiyedatiwa said he had continued to receive updates from his security adviser, the Ilaje council chairman and other security officials involved in the operation.

“No survivors yet, from the information I’ve gotten from the people,” he added.

Describing the incident as tragic, the governor said the crash was particularly painful because it occurred in his home local government.

“It’s a sad situation today, and we are all really aggrieved as Nigerians, and also it happened in my own state, not just my state, even my own local government where I’m from,” he said.

The NAF had confirmed that the aircraft was an ATR-42 on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when it crashed.

The force’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Ehimen Ejodame, said a search and rescue operation had been activated in collaboration with relevant authorities and emergency agencies.

The NAF had yet to disclose the number of persons on board or confirm casualties at the time of the initial statement.

The aircraft is reportedly configured for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, as well as air maritime missions.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.

His Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the President described the incident as a “painful moment” for the armed forces and the country.