Gov Yakowa, Azazi Die in Helicopter Crash – Jonathan Orders Probe

Also killed in the crash were Governor Yakowa’s aide Dauda Tsoho and Azazi’s bodyguard Warrant Officer Mohammed Kamal, as well as the pilots, Commander Murtala Mohammed Daba and Lieutenant Adeyemi O Sowole.   The helicopter, owned by the Nigerian Navy, crashed into a forest around Nembe-Okoroba area of Bayelsa State yesterday afternoon. A statement from […]

Also killed in the crash were Governor Yakowa’s aide Dauda Tsoho and Azazi’s bodyguard Warrant Officer Mohammed Kamal, as well as the pilots, Commander Murtala Mohammed Daba and Lieutenant Adeyemi O Sowole.

 

The helicopter, owned by the Nigerian Navy, crashed into a forest around Nembe-Okoroba area of Bayelsa State yesterday afternoon.

A statement from the presidency, which confirmed their death, said President Goodluck Jonathan “has ordered an investigation into the cause(s) of the crash”.

Reports from the scene of the accident said the helicopter crashed in the northern part of Okoroba community forest in Nembe Local Government Area of the state.

Eyewitnesses told journalists that the helicopter was sighted in the sky wobbling before the fatal crash at about 3:30pm.

“We sighted the chopper wobbling before it crashed,” said one witness. “By the time we got to the scene, it was in flame. We tried to put out the flame but it was difficult,” he said, adding that the victims were burnt to death.

Former Chairman of the Okoroba Community Development Committee Comrade Hitler Adunion who visited the scene said the helicopter crashed into the forest and burst into flame.

The Nigerian Navy had issued a statement saying that one of its patrol helicopters has crashed in Bayelsa State.

The statement signed by the Director of Information Commodore Kabir Aliyu said the chopper was conveying important personalities when it crashed.

He said: “A Nigerian Navy Agusta helicopter (helo 07) crashed (on) Saturday 15 December 2012 at about 3:30pm around Nembe-Okoroba area in Bayelsa State.

“The helicopter was conveying some VIPs to Port Harcourt from Okoroba Village also in Bayelsa State.

“Search and rescue operation is on-going by a combined team of personnel from Joint Task Force (OPS PULO SHIELD), Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, NEMA and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps,” he added.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) too had issued a statement announcing the conclusion of the search and rescue operation after the crash.

Its spokesman, Yushau A Shuaib said: “The operation which involved collaborations of response agencies and volunteers led to the recovery of the bodies of the six passengers on-board the helicopter.

“While the bodies have been deposited in the mortuary, further details on the victims will soon be announced after their families have been formally informed,” he said.

Governor Yakowa and General Azazi were among the personalities who attended the burial of the father of presidential aide Oronto Douglas.

General Azazi was said to be sitting close to the Former Governor of Bayelsa DSP Alameiseigha, former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Timi Alaibe  Nollyhood Actress Rita Dominic and the Late Governor Yakowa at the burial ceremony.

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson was reported to have left the same burial ceremony with his hired helicopter and participated in the chairmanship primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He was on his way to Port Harcourt when he got the news of the crash.

Authorities have not yet given any hint about the possible cause of the accident.

When our correspondent sought response from the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), the spokeman Tunji Oketunbi said that was outside the scope of bureau.

“Please be informed that the crashed helicopter is a naval aircraft. AIB investigates only civil aircraft accidents. You may want to contact military authorities for further enquiries,” he said.