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A helicopter crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, has caused panic in the coastal community of Ilaje Local Government Area. Several people on board are feared dead after the helicopter crashed near a local naval facility.
The crash happened on the morning of October 5, 2026. The helicopter reportedly went down near a river and a forested area close to the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbokoda.
Eyewitnesses in Larada Street said the helicopter was flying at a low altitude in rainy weather before it crashed into a swampy area near the riverbank. Local residents said they heard a loud sound similar to thunder during the rain before smoke was seen rising above the trees near the naval base.
Helicopter Crash in Igbokoda Ondo State
Community members said the impact was loud and could be heard across the waterfront. The crash caused panic in Larada Street and nearby riverine communities, while some fishermen and residents moved away from the area for safety. Eyewitnesses also raised the alarm as security personnel began responding to the incident.
The riverine terrain and thick vegetation around Igbokoda initially made it difficult for emergency workers to reach the crash site. Local youths joined the early rescue efforts, using the waterways to search for the crash site and possible survivors before formal rescue teams arrived.
Security agencies and emergency officials have launched efforts following the helicopter crash in Igbokoda Ondo State to locate the occupants, recover the wreckage, and determine the number of casualties.
Personnel from the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda were among the first to reach the area following the helicopter crash in Igbokoda Ondo State. Naval vessels, emergency workers, and security personnel continued to search the surrounding waterways and swampy areas for possible survivors and parts of the aircraft.
Maurice Oripelaye, Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, confirmed the crash and said emergency responders and naval officers were working at the scene. The Ondo State Police Command spokesperson, Jimoh Abayomi, also confirmed that police officers had been sent to secure the area as investigations begin.
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