ABUJA
— The Nigerian Navy disclosed, yesterday, that it had commenced
investigation into the cause of the crash even as bodies of the victims
have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa
State.
A
statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Kabiru
Aliyu reads: “The Nigerian Navy wishes to confirm that search and
rescue effort has led to the recovery of all the four passengers and the
two pilots on board its helicopter, NN 07which crashed on December 15, 2012.
“The
bodies of the victims have been recovered from the scene of the
incident and the crash site has been duly secured to allow for detailed
investigation. It should be noted that the report of the investigation
would be made available as soon as possible.”
The
names of the victims, according to the statement are, Mr Patrick I.
Yakowa, Governor of Kaduna State; General Andrew Owoye Azazi, former
National Security Adviser; Mr Dauda Tsoho, aide to Governor Yakowa;
Warrant Officer Mohammed Kamal, aide to General Azazi; Commander Murtala
Muhammed Daba and Lieutenant Olukayode Sowola.
Gov declares 3-day mourning
Also
yesterday, Governor Seriake Dickson of Beyelsa State declared a
three-day mourning in the state and directed that flags should fly at
half mast in honour of the crashed victims. He also cancelled all the
state government engagements.
Dickson,
yesterday, accompanied by former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; Chief of Naval Staff, Dele Ozeoba; top military
chiefs and senior Bayelsa government officials visited the morgue of
the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa where the remains of the victims of
the ill-fated helicopter were deposited.
Speaking
with newsmen, the governor who struggled to control his emotion said:
“This is a very sad day for our dear state and great country. This day
we are reminded once again of our mortality. It is tragic and
irreparable loss for this state, the government and the people of Kaduna
State. Let me first of all express our condolences on behalf of the
good people of Bayelsa State and express our condolences to the people
of Kaduna State whose Governor came visiting to strengthen and deepen
bonds of brotherhood.
“Let
me also express our condolences to the President and Commander in Chief
of the Armed Forces and Chief of Naval Staff for the loss of those
gallant officers.
“The
right steps and decisions will be taken. As a government, to underscore
our profound strength of bereavement I hereby direct three days of
mourning in memory and in honor of the contributions and services and
sacrifices of our departed heroes. Within this period, all flags in
Bayelsa State shall fly at half mast.”
Bodies of victims moved to FMC Yenagoa
It
was reliably gathered that the remains of the crashed victims were
deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa between
2.30 and 3am, yesterday, by military personnel deployed to the mangrove
swamp, the scene of the tragic crash which threw the riverside
settlement of Okoroba into mourning.
According
to sources, the bodies were conveyed to the Ogbia waterfront in Ogbia
Local Government Area in a convoy of boats accompanied by military
gunboats where they were received by a waiting team of military
personnel and top Bayelsa government officials before the remains were
moved to the medical facility.
The Ogbia jetty was reportedly cordoned off by military operatives mourning the tragic incident.
We heard a phone ringing at crash site—Rescue operative
Some
members of the rescue team involved in the emergency operations that
located the crash site of the doomed helicopter alleged that the mobile
phone of the late governor was rigging when his body was recovered from
the wreckage at about midnight.
A joint search party of the Joint Task Force known as Operation Restore Hope, the
youths of the Okoroba Community, members of the Civil Defence Corps and
the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) recovered the
remains of the crash victims.
A
security operative, who pleaded anonymity, said with the assistance of
the youths of the community, the crash site was discovered leading to
the evacuation of the charred corpses.
The
source who confirmed that the victims were burnt beyond recognition,
however, said a corpse, which burnt from head to mid-section, with the
lower parts covered with blue colour native attire, was identified as
the Kaduna Governor.
According
to him, “when we brought the body out, we started hearing sounds of
phone ringing from the left side of the pocket. We later discovered that
calls were coming to the phone and it could be from concerned persons
but no one answered.”
Yero sworn in as new gov
Meanwhile,
less than 24 hours after the death of Sir Ibrahim Patrick Yakowa,
Governor of Kaduna State, his deputy, Alhaji Muktar Ramallan Yero was
sworn in by Chief Judge of Kaduna State, Justice Rahila Cudjoe.
Yero
was sworn in around 1:10pm at the Council Chambers of Government House
Kaduna, with his supporters in boisterous jubilation in the midst of
the tragedy.
In
his acceptance speech, Yero said: “It is with heavy heart that I make
this speech having just fulfilled a constitutional requirement of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria. The sad event that befell Kaduna State,
yesterday (Saturday), is already public knowledge.
“Our
amiable Govenor, Sir Ibrahim Yakowa has suddenly left us by answering
the call of our creator. Indeed, from Him we all came and to Him we
would all, one day, return.”
Indeed, between these periods is the previledge we have to serve humanity.
“We
are living testimonies to the fact that our amiable Governor, Sir
Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa , who came, did serve humanity in various and
diverse capacities, well, and has suddenly, without notice, retuned to
our Creator. His humility, dedication to duty, fairness to all and a
high sense of humour, endeared him to many, near all and far,
irrespective of religious, tribal or sectional inclinations. No wonder,
he as given the pseudo name Nakowa (for everyone).
“This
vision of Yakowa, Nakowa was to Secure, Unite and Develop Kaduna
State. He invested so much on this and started reaping the fruits of his
labour. He wished to consolidate and advance on the achievements so far
made and hence tagged Kaduna State’s 2013 Budget, which he presented to
the Kaduna State House of Assembly on Thursday, 13th December, 2012 as
the “Budget of Consolidation and Advancement. I sincerely desire to
build on the good foundation that my boss has laid. I therefore covet
your prayers and for God’s wisdom, guidance and direction.
“I
take this opportunity to commiserate with the wife and immediate family
of Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, in particular, members of the Government
of Kaduna State and the entire citizens of the state over this sad
moment we have found ourselves in.
May
God in his infinite mercies comfort us all. I shall later in the day
state wide broadcast to the citizens of Kaduna State when more details
of the sad event are known.
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