15 December 2012, Sweetcrude, Yenagoa – A Nigerian navy helicopter has crashed in the forest of Okoroba in Nembe local government area of Bayelsa State shortly after take off, with four persons reportedly killed
Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, former national security adviser, NSA, General Owoeye Azazi were said to be in the naval aircraft at the time of the crash. Others said to have been on board the ill-fated chopper include a top politician from Kaduna state Dudas Tsoho, Azazi’s orderly, the pilot and his co-pilot.
According to a former youth president of Okoroba community, Hitler Adumion who spoke from the scene of the crash, the victims of the ill-fated chopper were burnt beyond recognition.
The victims were returning to Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, from the funeral of the father of Douglas Oronto, Special Adviser to President Jonathan, when the helicopter crashed into the creeks.
It is uncertain if there were survivors.
It was gathered that the scene of the military had despatched its personnel to scene of the crash with a view to ensuring that vital documents that would aid its investigation into cause of the accident are not tampered with.
Attempt to get the comment of the naval authorities, the Joint Task Force and the air force base on the incident proved abortive as non of the officials were willing to talk on the matter. Though they confirmed the crash they refused to disclosed the identities of the victims.