From: Afis
"The former Chairman of the Okoroba Community Development Committee (CDC), Comrade Hitler Adunion, who witnessed the naval helicopter crash, told LEADERSHIP that the helicopter nosedived into the forest and burst into flame. "We sighted the helicopter wobbling and then crash landing. By the time we got to the scene, it was in flames. We tried to put out the flame but it was difficult. We later saw the roasted bodies of all those inside."
Leadership Newspaper (December 15, 2012)
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General Azazi is Killed; and, the Governor of Kaduna State Killed
A helicopter has crashed in Nigeria's southern oil-producing Bayelsa state on Saturday, killing the governor of Kaduna state, an aide to the Kaduna Governor told Reuters news agency. Bayelsa police spokesman Fidelis Odunna confirmed that a helicopter crashed in the Ogbia Creeks but gave no further details of who was on board or of the total number of casualties. But it is known that the governor of Nigeria's Kaduna state, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, was killed on Saturday when the helicopter crashed in the southerly oil-producing Bayelsa state.
According to Saharareporters, Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and former National Security Adviser Andrew Owoye Azazi apparently died in the helicopter crash. "Governor Yakowa and Mr. Azazi, a retired military general who served as chief security adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, were among passengers in the ill-fated helicopter", it reported.
Nigeria's National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) had earlier indicated that the agency had activated a search for the crashed helicopter. Our sources had earlier disclosed that the crashed chopper was carrying "some major political figures." As at the time of going to press, Saharareporters was unable to confirm the identity of the other passengers in the ill-fated chopper.
Governor Yakowa and Mr. Azazi were among many political figures who reportedly attended the burial of the father of senior presidential aide Oronto Douglas. The funeral event took place in the Nembe area of Bayelsa State earlier today. SaharaReporters learnt that the crashed helicopter was one of several helicopters that some well-connected people to the funeral.
The crash comes on the heels of a plane crash on October 25, 2012 that has left Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State brain-damaged. Mr. Suntai was moved to a hospital in Germany where he remains in poor shape, unable to recognize his visitors or to speak.
Nigeria's 36 state governors are among the most powerful politicians in Africa's biggest oil producer, often controlling budgets bigger than other African countries. Local residents said several high-profile politicians had traveled to Bayelsa, President Goodluck Jonathan's home state, this weekend for a funeral. President Jonathan himself was not in Bayelsa at the time of the crash, the presidency said.
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