KADUNA State governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa and former national Security Adviser (NSA), Andrew Owoye Azazi, were among the six people that died in a helicopter crashed in the creeks of Bayelsa State at about 3.30 p.m. on Saturday.
The deceased left Okoloba community in the creeks of Bayelsa State, which was the venue of the burial of Pa Tamunoobebara Douglas, father of Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Mr Oronto Natel Douglas, and were heading towards their hotel in the state capital, Yenagoa.
Reports had it that it was the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) that first alerted that it was in search of a helicopter that got missing.
Aircraft exploded, burst into flames
Information from residents in the creek area indicated that shortly after the helicopter took off, it appeared to have developed a mechanical problem. The pilot was said to have decided to plunge it into the creek, but it exploded upon impact and burst into flames.
The resultant loud explosion was said to have made people from the community around the crash site to rush out.
A source informed journalists that security agencies and emergency bodies had deployed boats and personnel to the spot of the accident in the creeks so as to be able to rescue probable survivors and remains of those who might have died.
NEMA deposits six bodies in mortuary
NEMA said on Saturday that it successfully completed search operation and that it had deposited the remains of the six crash victims in a morgue.
A statement by NEMA spokesman, Yushau Shuaib, on Saturday explained this.
Navy confirms ownership of helicopter
Meanwhile the Nigerian Navy has confirmed that its helicopter with registration number NN07 crashed at Nembe/Okorogba, while conveying some personalities to Port Harcourt at about 3.30 pm.
Director of Naval Information, Navy Commander, Kabiru Aliyu, who disclosed this Saturday night, said a combined team of Navy, Air Force, Operation Pulo Shield, NEMA and the Civil Defence Corps were deployed at the site of the incident.
It would be recalled that it was barely two months ago that Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai of Taraba State was involved in an air crash that has left him incapacitated.
Governor Suntai was flying the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan on Thursday, 25 October when it crashed at Yamtari village, a suburb of Yola, Adamawa State.
However, while Suntai, who is believed to be currently undergoing treatment in a German hospital, was said to have flown the plane he had accident in himself, victims of Saturday’s helicopter crash were flown in the Naval helicopter, marked NN07, by a pilot. More
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