Villagers recount how Air Force plane crashed in Ondo

A Nigerian Air Force plane crashed into a swamp in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo state, killing all 25 people on board. According to the Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, the plane crashed about 500 metres east of the Nigerian Naval base in Igbokoda after the pilots diverted it away from the community.

The aircraft sank deep into the swamp, making it difficult for rescuers to reach the wreckage. The Ondo State Government deployed swamp buggies to assist in the recovery efforts.

The search and rescue operation, which involved the state government, security agencies, and local authorities, had been ongoing since Monday, as per Ajaka. The pilots diverted the plane away from the community to avoid a potentially more severe accident, according to eyewitness accounts.

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