RIP: Military Chopper Full of Soldiers Crashes Today, Killing Several on Board

A helicopter thought to belong to the armed forces went down on Monday morning in Igbokoda, Ondo State, in southwest Nigeria.

Several of those aboard are feared to have perished.The aircraft plunged into marshy ground directly facing a naval base in the Ilaje Local Government Area.

Locals were shaken by the news, and many moved towards the scene as officials arrived to inspect the damage.

Maurice Oripelaye, the chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, verified the crash.

He explained that flames had ravaged the helicopter so severely that no part of it could be identified.

He added that the blaze had left only a heap of debris, which makes it difficult to say quickly how many lives were lost.

Oripelaye noted that military gear was discovered at the site.

This has led many to believe that soldiers were travelling in the aircraft. Even so, authorities have not stated how many people were inside.

No one has confirmed the model of the aircraft, its point of departure, its destination, or the purpose of its flight.

The Nigerian military has yet to release an official statement, and it has not said whether its personnel were involved.

Police have likewise acknowledged that an aircraft came down in the area.

Jimoh Abayomi, the police spokesperson in Ondo State, said officers were still gathering facts to learn exactly what went wrong.

Abayomi urged residents to keep calm and avoid passing on reports that have not been verified.

Rumours tend to circulate rapidly after such disasters and can spark fear, particularly among families anxiously waiting for word about their loved ones.

Officials were busy cordoning off the crash site and studying the wreckage.

They hope it will yield more answers about the aircraft and those who were aboard.

The incident has stirred deep worry because it occurred near a naval base and because military equipment was reportedly found at the scene.

For now, the death toll and the identities of those on board remain unknown as the investigation goes on.

ProfAmor [email protected]