Several people are feared dead after a helicopter crashed in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday morning.
The helicopter reportedly crashed in a swampy area of the riverine community, with the exact number of people on board and the number of casualties yet to be officially confirmed.
Residents reportedly heard a loud sound from the area of the crash but were unable to immediately reach the site because it was located inside a creek.
A resident who spoke about the incident said security personnel later arrived in the area to begin rescue and assessment efforts.
“It happened this morning. We heard a very loud sound in the area where the incident occurred, but we could not get there because the place is a swampy area inside the creek; we are just looking at it from afar,” the resident said.
He added that police and military personnel later arrived at the scene, although the condition of those aboard the aircraft could not immediately be established.
The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the aircraft crash and said investigations had commenced.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said details surrounding the incident were still emerging.
“The Ondo State Police Command confirms the reported aircraft crash in the Igbokoda axis of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday, 5th October 2026. Details surrounding the incident are still emerging, as efforts to establish the full circumstances continue,” Jimoh said.
He urged residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information.
“The public will be duly informed as soon as further credible information becomes available,” he added.
Other reports from the area said the aircraft came down in swampy terrain close to a naval facility. The Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Maurice Oripelaye, reportedly confirmed the crash and said military equipment was recovered from the site, although the number of people aboard remained unknown.
There have also been reports describing the aircraft as a suspected military helicopter, but the identity and operator of the helicopter have not been officially confirmed.
The circumstances that led to the crash, the identities of those on board and the confirmed casualty figure remain unclear as rescue and assessment efforts continue.
The police have urged the public to rely on verified information as authorities work to establish the full circumstances of the incident.
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