Post by play on Dec 17, 2012 11:39:26 GMT
A Nigerian Navy helicopter carrying Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa, and former National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoye Azazi, crashed on Saturday afternoon in Tombia near Nembe, Bayelsa State.
All the six occupants of the helicopter have been confirmed dead and their bodies deposited in a mortuary.
The helicopter was one of several used to convey dignitaries to the burial of Pa Obebara Douglas, father of the Special Adviser to the President on Documentation and Strategy, Oronto Douglas, in Okoroba, Bayelsa State.
The governor and former NSA were on their way from the venue of the burial to Port Harcourt International Airport when the helicopter crashed.
Others onboard were the helicopter pilot, his co-pilot and two of Yakowa’s security aides.
The helicopter reportedly crashed around 3.30p.m.
At 6.38p.m, the spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, Yushau Shuaib, initially confirmed that a helicopter crashed in Bayelsa State.
“NEMA has activated its search and rescue team in colloboration with other response agencies over an helicopter that was suspected to have crashed in Bayelsa axis,” he said in an SMS.
Navy spokesman, Kabir Aliyu, also confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria that rescue work was ongoing at the crash site.
However, at 9.30p.m, the NEMA spokesman said in a second statement that the bodies of the crash victims had been recovered.
It reads, “The National Emergency Management Agency has confirmed the conclusion of the search and rescue operation of a Naval helicopter that crashed this afternoon in Nembe area of Bayelsa State.
“The operation which involved the collaborations of response agencies and volunteers led to the recovery of the bodies of the six passengers onboard 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.”
National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, also confirmed the incident in a statement.
He said, “The statement said, “Our great party is shocked beyond imagination and no words can adequately give expression to the depth of our grief. What a colossal loss.
” The nation has lost a great patriot who in about two years in saddle as the Governor of Kaduna State demonstrated an unyielding capacity in wielding together varying fragile interests.
“He rendered quality stewardship to his people. Even in the face of daunting security challenges, nothing came close to compromising his iron cast resolve and faith that the phase must certainly pass.
“It is unfortunate that the nation has lost him at this critical curve in our national history.”
“On behalf of the National Executive Committee and other members of the PDP, the National Chairman of our great Party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur wishes to condole with the government and the people of Kaduna State as well as the family of late Governor Yakowa on this very painful loss. Your tear is our broken heart!
“We wish to also send our heart felt condolence to the family of General Azazi as well as to the families of other Nigerians involved in the unfortunate crash.
“We beseech God to give them the strength to withstand this harshest sting of the painful loss of dear ones.”
More details will be provided as the story develops.
www.punchng.com/business/helicopter-carrying-kaduna-gov-ex-nsa-others-crashes-in-bayelsa/
All the six occupants of the helicopter have been confirmed dead and their bodies deposited in a mortuary.
The helicopter was one of several used to convey dignitaries to the burial of Pa Obebara Douglas, father of the Special Adviser to the President on Documentation and Strategy, Oronto Douglas, in Okoroba, Bayelsa State.
The governor and former NSA were on their way from the venue of the burial to Port Harcourt International Airport when the helicopter crashed.
Others onboard were the helicopter pilot, his co-pilot and two of Yakowa’s security aides.
The helicopter reportedly crashed around 3.30p.m.
At 6.38p.m, the spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, Yushau Shuaib, initially confirmed that a helicopter crashed in Bayelsa State.
“NEMA has activated its search and rescue team in colloboration with other response agencies over an helicopter that was suspected to have crashed in Bayelsa axis,” he said in an SMS.
Navy spokesman, Kabir Aliyu, also confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria that rescue work was ongoing at the crash site.
However, at 9.30p.m, the NEMA spokesman said in a second statement that the bodies of the crash victims had been recovered.
It reads, “The National Emergency Management Agency has confirmed the conclusion of the search and rescue operation of a Naval helicopter that crashed this afternoon in Nembe area of Bayelsa State.
“The operation which involved the collaborations of response agencies and volunteers led to the recovery of the bodies of the six passengers onboard 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.”
National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, also confirmed the incident in a statement.
He said, “The statement said, “Our great party is shocked beyond imagination and no words can adequately give expression to the depth of our grief. What a colossal loss.
” The nation has lost a great patriot who in about two years in saddle as the Governor of Kaduna State demonstrated an unyielding capacity in wielding together varying fragile interests.
“He rendered quality stewardship to his people. Even in the face of daunting security challenges, nothing came close to compromising his iron cast resolve and faith that the phase must certainly pass.
“It is unfortunate that the nation has lost him at this critical curve in our national history.”
“On behalf of the National Executive Committee and other members of the PDP, the National Chairman of our great Party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur wishes to condole with the government and the people of Kaduna State as well as the family of late Governor Yakowa on this very painful loss. Your tear is our broken heart!
“We wish to also send our heart felt condolence to the family of General Azazi as well as to the families of other Nigerians involved in the unfortunate crash.
“We beseech God to give them the strength to withstand this harshest sting of the painful loss of dear ones.”
More details will be provided as the story develops.
www.punchng.com/business/helicopter-carrying-kaduna-gov-ex-nsa-others-crashes-in-bayelsa/
