Nigerian military don start underwater survey with side-scan sonar equipment to locate di Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft wey crash for Igbokoda area of Ondo State.
Di sonar operation na to map di crash site and find exact position of di aircraft wey sink, so dat divers and technical people go fit carry out recovery work.
Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Department deploy di equipment after directive from Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
Dem say di operation necessary because di swamp water no clear, and e dey hard to see underwater.
Nigerian Navy divers and Nigerian Air Force drone pilots also dey use special equipment to search di mangrove and forest areas around.
Di sonar survey go help military plan next phase of recovery, including deployment of swamp buggy to help excavation for di difficult terrain.
Di development follow assessment visit to di crash site by Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, and Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdul Suleh.
Di delegation visit di site of di NAF ATR-42 aircraft, tail number NAF 931, wey crash for di area.
Commanding Officer, Navy Captain Andy Alemongwa, receive di delegation for Officers’ Mess of Forward Operating Base, Igbokoda.
Government officials, community leaders, emergency management agencies and other stakeholders also dey di base to express condolences and support for di Armed Forces.
Dem include Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Commissioners for Health and Environment, representatives of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA; State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA; Nigerian Red Cross Society; National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA; and personnel of other security agencies.
Rear Admiral Mustapha convey appreciation of Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and di Service Chiefs to Ondo State Government, host communities, emergency agencies and other stakeholders for dia support since di crash.
He urge stakeholders to remain calm and continue to cooperate with agencies wey dey handle di recovery operation.
Di FOC also commend Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, plus Hi-Tech and AUC Construction companies, for providing mechanised equipment to support di operation.
Di military delegation, accompanied by selected stakeholders, later travel by boat to di crash site for on-the-spot assessment of di operation.
Dem assess di terrain and give technical guidance on measures to help recover di submerged aircraft and wetin dey inside.
Di team also visit di swamp buggy launching point, where Rear Admiral Mustapha interact with technical crew and urge dem to intensify efforts to make sure di recovery operation happen quick.
Di recovery exercise involve military, emergency response agencies, security organisations, technical personnel and other stakeholders working together to locate and recover di aircraft.
