By Dayo Johnson, Akure

AKURE — Evacuation of victims of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, has been stalled by the swampy and inaccessible terrain where the aircraft went down.

Twenty-four hours after the incident, emergency responders were still battling to retrieve the wreckage and remains of those on board as of Tuesday morning.

The ATR-42 aircraft, which crashed on Monday morning, was said to be deeply submerged in the swamp, making rescue operations extremely difficult.

Sources at the scene said thick mangroves and murky waters had hampered access to the exact location of the wreckage.

Journalists were denied access to the crash site, located about 500 metres east of the Naval Base, which had been cordoned off.

Some television journalists were reportedly arrested by Navy authorities for allegedly accessing the site without clearance.

In an interview, the state Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, described the terrain as very challenging.

Ohagwu said: “What happened yesterday was quite unfortunate. It is a very difficult terrain — the creeks, mangroves. Accessing the site of the crash was not easy. I had to use a smaller boat, a canoe, to access it.

“I thank the OCA, Marine, and the DPO, Igbokoda, who have been on ground since yesterday, giving us support.

“For now, the recovery of the wreckage is still in progress. More technical support is being awaited.

“Most of the scene has been calmed down. We are still expecting a bigger machine to be able to pull the wreckage from the water.”

The police commissioner said the command was awaiting a response from the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and other relevant agencies to deploy heavy equipment needed to pull the aircraft from the swamp.

Addressing newsmen in Igbokoda, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, said he had been in the forest alongside the Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base, FOB, Igbokoda, supervising the operation.

Ajaka said personnel and ambulances from hospitals in Ilaje and Okitipupa Local Government Areas had been deployed on the directive of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

According to him, “I have been in the forest with the CO, FOB Igbokoda, for search and rescue operations.

“I have deployed personnel and ambulances from all hospitals in Ilaje and Okitipupa LGAs as directed by Mr Governor. The site is about 500 metres east of the Naval Base. People are just videoing and posting all manner of information far away from the site.

“I was at the place till around 11 p.m. with local divers and the CO and his men.”

Ajaka described the incident as a national tragedy that should not be politicised and urged members of the public to avoid spreading unverified information.

“This is a national disaster that we shouldn’t play politics with. Please, let’s tarry and wait for verified information,” he said.

He added that swamp buggies and other rescue equipment would be deployed to continue the operation early Wednesday.

The commissioner commended the Commanding Officer of FOB Igbokoda, his men, local divers and medical personnel from the State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa, General Hospital, Igbokoda, and Comprehensive Health Centre, Igbokoda, for their efforts.

Ajaka prayed that “May we not experience this type of monumental loss again in this country.”