The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Abubakar Mustapha, has inspected the ongoing search and recovery operation at the site of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft crash at Igbokoda, Ondo State. Rear Admiral Mustapha, who visited Forward Operating Base (FOB) Igbokoda on Tuesday, October…...
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Abubakar Mustapha, has inspected the ongoing search and recovery operation at the site of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft crash at Igbokoda, Ondo State.
Rear Admiral Mustapha, who visited Forward Operating Base (FOB) Igbokoda on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, said the visit was aimed at assessing the progress of the operation, identifying challenges and strengthening collaboration among agencies involved in the recovery efforts.
He was received by the Commanding Officer of the base, alongside the Commander, 107 Air Maritime Group, and the Commandant, Nigerian Air Force Institute of Safety. The FOC subsequently interacted with personnel and other stakeholders participating in the search and recovery operation.
During the visit, Rear Admiral Mustapha held a meeting with representatives of Hi-Tech Construction Company, the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency (ODSEMA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other stakeholders.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the stakeholders to review the progress of the operation and deliberate on challenges encountered since the commencement of the search and recovery exercise.
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The FOC commended the Ondo State Government and the Managing Director of Hi-Tech Construction Company, Mr Danny Aboud, for their commitment to the operation, particularly the deployment of mechanised equipment suited to the difficult terrain of the crash site.
He said the continued cooperation and commitment of all stakeholders remained critical to the successful completion of the recovery operation.
Following the meeting, the FOC and the stakeholders proceeded by boat to the crash site for an on-the-spot assessment of the operation.
At the site, the team received updates from personnel directly involved in the search and recovery efforts, including information on progress made and the challenges affecting operations in the area.
The assessment, according to the Naval Command, further reinforced the need for sustained inter-agency collaboration and coordinated efforts to achieve the objectives of the search and recovery mission.