The Nation Newspaper

Tag: escapes death

  • Osinbajo escapes death as helicopter crashes in Kogi

    •Vice President unhurt, proceeds with scheduled campaign stops
    •How six-seater chopper narrowly missed bus carrying senator
    •Caverton Helicopters blames poor wealther for crash
    •APC, Atiku, Saraki, others grateful, PDP calls for investigation

    Vice President Yemi Osibanjo was second time lucky yesterday after surviving a helicopter crash at Kabba,Kogi State,two weeks to the presidential election.

    No one on board the Augusta AW139 helicopter was hurt, neither was anyone on ground.

    The six-seater chopper was in the process of landing at the Kabba Township Stadium when it unexpectedly lost one of its blades and hit the ground on its right side.

    Caverton Helicopters,the firm that manages the aircraft, attributed the crash to bad weather which apparently blurred visibility for the pilot.

    An eye witness said that as the helicopter made to land on the sandy field, a lot of dust was thrown up and visibility became poor.

    In no time,one of the blades flew off and the helicopter lost balance.

    At a point,the aircraft appeared to be swerving to one end of the stadium where a  bus was parked but the pilot managed to manoeuvre it from the area until he finally lost control and the helicopter  went down.

    The eyewitness said a lot of people would have possibly died if the chopper had crashed where it was first headed.

    Inside the Coaster bus were Senator Smart Adeyemi,a former President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Kogi West and some of his supporters.

    An aide to Adeyemi,Mr. Dare Olayemi, said of the incident:”By all definition,the crash, the safety of VP Osinbajo and the fact that there was no casualty constitute a very strange miracle.

    “I was among those who brought out the Vice President through the window of the crashed chopper; the man did not sustain a single bruise and he went ahead straightaway to launch the Tradermoni as earlier planned.

    “About thirty minutes earlier, a police helicopter which appeared to be an advance party had landed.

    “The Vice President’s helicopter appeared to be shiny and in spectacular condition – far more impressive to look at than the previous one.

    “My leader, Senator Adeyemi, and several others were in a Coaster  bus when we suddenly realised that the pilot had lost control.

    “Were it not for God’s timely intervention and the pilot’s reaction, our bus would have become a trap in a stadium built by Senator Adeyemi for his people a few years ago.

    “The surging crowd made it difficult for the bus to move and when the helicopter crash landed, losing one side, some of us rushed to help but other than the VP, I can’t recognise faces of the others in the helicopter.

    “It was indeed, a very strange miracle that none in the crowd and none of the helicopter occupants suffered any injury

    “Minutes afterwards, the Vice President carried on with the Tradermoni event as if the shocking and unprecedented spectacle that we all witnessed earlier, with our hearts in our mouth, was a non-event.”

    Once out of the chopper, an unperturbed Osinbajo was ushered into a  waiting vehicle and  driven in a convoy to  the palace of the Obaro of Kabba, to pay a courtesy call.

    Speaking at the Obaro’s Palace Osinbajo expressed gratitude to God for keeping death at bay during the crash.

    He said: “We are extremely grateful to the Lord for preserving our lives from the incident that just happened. Everyone is safe and no one is maimed. God has kept us safe and alive, delivered us from death so we can do more for our people and country.”

    Osinbajo later addressed a crowd at the St Augustine’s College in the town.

    He was also billed to launch the trader moni in Kabba.

    Spokesman to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, confirmed the crash on his Twitter handle.

    He said: “VP Osinbajo’s Chopper crash lands in Kabba, but he and the entire crew safe.

    “He is continuing with his engagements and plans for the day in Kogi State.”

    Osinbajo himself also went on his Twitter handle  @ProfOsinbajo to express  appreciation for the concern shown by Nigerians over the incident.

    He said: “All thanks and glory to God, the chopper we boarded today from Abuja just crash landed in Kabba, Kogi State, and the entire crew plus myself are all safe.

    “We are continuing with our Next Level Engagements and plans for Kogi State.”

     

    Why chopper crashed—Caverton Helicopters

    The management of Caverton Helicopters last night attributed the chopper crash to “unusual weather conditions.”

    It said it had informed the relevant authorities connected with the probe of the incident.

    In a statement, Caverton Helicopters said there were no injuries to either Osinbajo or any of the passengers.

    The statement was signed by its Managing Director / Accountable Manager, Capt. Josiah CHOMS PhD MNIM

    The statement said: “An Augusta AW139 Helicopter, under management by Caverton Helicopters was involved in a mishap on landing in Kabba, Kogi State around 3pm today (2nd February 2019) as a result of unusual weather conditions.

    “There were no injuries to the passengers or crew onboard and they were all quickly and safely evacuated.

    “The relevant authorities have been duly informed and an investigation into the incident has commenced. We will, of course, support the authorities as required.

    “We wish to reassure the public and our various stakeholders of our unwavering commitment to safety in all of our operations.”

     

    We pray for safety of our leaders, says APC

    His party, APC, said it would continue to pray for the safety of Nigerian leaders and the general progress of the nation.

    Reacting to the helicopter crash the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, said the party was grateful for the safety of the Vice President.

    He said: “We thank God our vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is safe and sound along with his aides following his involvement in a helicopter accident which occurred in Kabba, Kogi State while undertaking the All Progressives Congress #NextLevel Engagements ahead of the #2019Elections.

    “The Party prays for continuous safety of our leaders and general progress of our great country.

    “We also congratulate @ProfOsinbajo, an alumnus of Igbobi College @ICYaba on the institution’s 87 founders day anniversary being marked today.”

     

    Atiku ‘elated’ over VP’s survival

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar said he was elated to learn that Osinbajo and those in the helicopter did not suffer any injury.

    He said: “Dear Vice President @ProfOsinbajo, I just received news of the crash of your helicopter in Kabba, Kogi State. I am happy to note however that all is well with you and your delegation.

    Atiku’s running mate,Mr.Peter Obi, also expressed gratitude to God that there was no loss of life in the incident.

    Obi prayed to God to continue to protect all those running around on campaign and Nigerians in general.

    He asked Nigerians to remain prayerful at all times.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki,House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also expressed joy that Osinbajo survived the crash.

    Saraki joined “all Nigerians in thanking Almighty God for sparing the life of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who survived a helicopter crash over Kabba, Kogi State “while Dogara urged  “relevant authorities to conduct due diligence checks on all govt owned aircraft to prevent a re-occurrence.”

    However, the PDP called for “a thorough investigation into the traumatic incident.”

    The party’s national publicity secretary,Mr.Kola Ologbondiyan said: “the safety of our leaders, and of course, all Nigerians, must be guaranteed, especially at this critical time.

    “The PDP urges all Nigerians irrespective of creed, ethnicity and political affiliation, to continue to pray for God’s continued intervention in our national life.”

     

    Dickson urges Nigerians to thank God for averting national tragedy

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State  urged Nigerians to thank God for sparing the lives of the Vice President and other passengers in the helicopter.

    He said “I have heard about the crash-landing of the helicopter that was conveying the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and other passengers at Kabba, Kogi State.

    “I join Nigerians to thank the Almighty GOD for this great deliverance and the prevention of a tragedy that would have plunged this nation into mourning at this critical time.

    “We should all thank God for sparing the lives of the Vice President, the other passengers and the crew for his mercies.

    “In this country, we have a responsibility to see ourselves as brothers and sisters of a united family irrespective of differences in party platforms.

    “Being in different parties should not make us see ourselves as enemies or tear us apart. We should reinforce our common humanity in moments like this.”

    “My family and I and indeed the Government and people of Bayelsa State hereby offer our best wishes and show gratitude to God for sparing life of the Vice President.”

    The Southwest Campaign Council of President Muhammadu Buhari said it received the unfortunate news of the accident.

    The campaign council in a statement by its spokesman,Rotimi Ogunleye however expressed appreciation to God that the Vice President and his team did not sustain any injury.

    The council thanked Nigerians for their prayers.

    It believed that the prayers of Nigerians have been the sustaining grace for Osinbajo and the government of APC in Nigeria in their quest for a better Nigeria.

    While thanking God, the campaign council pleaded with Nigerians to continue to pray for Nigeria and her leaders.

    On June 7, 2018, a chopper conveying the vice-president from the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja, was forced to land a few seconds after takeoff.

    At the time, Laolu Akande, VP’s Senior Special Assistant, explained that the vice-president avoided using his chopper from Gwagwalada where he had gone for an official assignment back to the Presidential Villa due to “technical reasons.”

    He said the vice-president returned to the Presidential Villa by road and continued with his schedule.

    “VP Osinbajo attended the graduation ceremony of Nigeria Customs Senior Course in Gwagwalada today (Thursday June 7, 2018),” he had tweeted.

    “On his way back, it was decided, for technical reasons, not to fly the chopper that had brought him to the venue. He drove back to the Presidential Villa and continued his schedule.”

  • Governor’s former aide escapes ‘death’

    An alleged assassination attempt was yesterday made on a former Special Assistant to Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel on Electoral Matters, Mfon Udeme.

    Udeme, a lawyer, who resigned last month, was allegedly attacked by gunmen at his home at Itam in Uyo metropolis.

    Narrating the incident, he said about 15 hoodlums invaded his home at about 1:15am and shot him.

    He said he was left in a pool of blood, while the hoodlums attacked other parts of the house.

    The victim, who is recuperating in a private hospital, said he  escaped after the gunmen shot him in the arm and right thigh.

    He said he noticed that he was being trailed the previous night, but waited till the next day to lodge a complaint to the police.

    Udeme said the suspected assassins, who rejected everything he offered them, were later repelled when a police officer in the neighbourhood shot them from his home.

    The former Ibiono Ibom Local Government chairman, who has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), urged the police and other security agencies to look into what he described as “a fast rising rate of politically-motivated attacks and killings.”

    Asked what warranted his resignation from the government, he said: “I left because I didn’t agree with people being treated with disdain, disregard and ignominy by Governor Emmanuel. I like to be motivated wherever I work, but the governor had no motivation to offer me. So, I left because money is not everything. I stated these in my resignation letter.”

    The father of five, who said he had been visited by the DPO from the ‘D ‘ Division, Itam, added that his family was terrified by the incident.

    He enjoined the government to ensure citizens’ safety.

    When The Nation called Police Commissioner Mr. Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi and spokesman Odiko MacDon last night to confirm the incident, they did not pick their calls.

  • Crisis rocks IYC as chairman ‘escapes death’ in Bayelsa

    Crisis is rocking the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Central Zone, following alleged attempts on the lives of the zone’s Chairman, Tare Porri and some elders in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Porri, yesterday, said he survived an attempt on his life by the Vice-Chairman of the council, Amiebi  Turner and some of his loyalists, who invaded the venue of a peace meeting convened by the elders in council.

    Briefing journalists at his office in Izon House yesterday, Porri said his deputy stormed the venue of the meeting with bus loads of hoodlums and held him and other elders at gunpoint.

    He said properties belonging to the Chairman of the Elders Advisory Council, Mike Wenibowei, who provided the venue for the meeting were destroyed while the entire area was raided raided with valuables carted away.

    Wenibowei,  former Chairman of the IYC, confirmed the incident and said he saw the thugs holding at least three guns adding that the invaders caused panic in the area through many gunshots they fired into the air.

    Wenibowei said it took the intervention of security forces to calm the situation.

    Turner and his loyalists were said to be angry  following an alleged plan  by Porri to handover to one of his supporters before leaving his chairmanship to contest the State House of Assembly seat for Ekeremor Constituency 1 in Bayelsa.

    It was gathered that the thugs attacked and beat up two policemen, including an inspector sent to serve an invitation from the Commissioner of Police in the state Don Awunah, to the suspects in Ogboloma.

    The policemen were reportedly hospitalized after the thugs descended and vented their anger on them.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Asinim Butswat, confirmed the attack on the security operatives, but said he needed a detailed briefing to get the facts of the matter.

    “I am aware, I just want to get detailed explanation before I talk to you”, he said.

    Porri said he was saved by the intervention of his security aide and the malfunctioning of the locally-made pistol when his deputy pulled the trigger.

    He said: “The Treasurer tried to hit me and when I dodged, I saw Amiebi trying to pull the trigger and the gun did not respond. Immediately I used my last strength to hit him and I don’t know how I got out. He still followed me and was aiming at me before my security detail faced him and that was how I escaped being assassinated.

    “ They raided the whole street with all their valuables. As I address you, even my phone is still with him and they have vowed to kill me , my wife and my children and they will burn down my house,”, he said.

    Porri called on the Inspector General of Police, the Commander, Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, the police, Director of the Department of State Services in the state and other security agencies to come to his aid.

    “ My life and those of my lieutenants are in serious danger. These hoodlums have vowed to eliminate us. They feel the only way to take over leadership of the IYC is by killing all of us. I have reported to the security agencies”, he added.

    Porri named others who attacked him as Beledayon Barracks, Juliana Okpu and Daniel Perebi, who are also members of the executive committee of the IYC.

    But Turner denied all the allegations describing them as malicious and fallacious and asked the public to disregard the claims.

    He said: “The allegations  that I mobilise thugs to disrupt meeting, held a gun, and all that and fabricated. I wish the general public to disregard these allegations leveled against me because it was built and watered on falsehood.

    “I was not invited for the conflict resolution  meeting with the Chairman and other stakeholders of Council,but i got the information and went there to make my stand and raise critical issues that could lead to crisis in the zonal leadership.

    “We had series of argument which resulted in reactions by some followers of Porri and, which I find condemable in strong terms. I had to run for my life because  I was targeted. I never held a gun or involved in any uproar”.

     

  • Family escapes death as stray cow smashes car

    Family escapes death as stray cow smashes car

    Four members of a family resident in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State have reportedly escaped death by the whiskers as a cow believed to have strayed away from a herd rammed into their moving vehicle, smashing his car windscreen.
    The incident, The Nation gathered happened along the road leading to 7-Up Breweries, off Ogbor Hill.
    Sources within the area where the incident happened said that occupants of the vehicle, a Toyota Camry, with Registration number, Abuja FF 923 ABJ were unhurt except that their car’s windscreen was badly damaged.
    They said that the cow believed to have strayed away from a herd of cow around the area suddenly emerged from a nearby bush and jumped unto the Camry heading into Aba, the heart of the commercial city.
    “We came to clean our vehicles at the car wash; nobody knew where the cow emerged from. We only heard a bang when it (the cow) crashed into the car which was approaching the junction to head into town. The woman and her husband were trapped, we managed to rescue them unhurt,” eyewitnesses narrated.
    Other residents of Ogbor Hill, including Mr. Chibuike Iheme used the opportunity to appeal to the state government and relevant agencies in the state to call people rearing cows to order, stressing that many residents of the area have been victims of strayed cows, an action they said that they were already planning on how curb.
    Reacting to the incident, the Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, said it was high time the state government check the activities of cattle dealers at the waterside cattle market along the busy Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway.
    In a statement signed by the Chairman of CLO, Aba unit, Prof. Charles Chinekezi, the organisation lamented that the activities of cattle dealers in Ogbor Hill had become a threat to road users and called on the government to check the menace.
    “CLO is worried on the danger posed by the activities of cattle dealers on the Ogbor Hill waterside bridge along Aba – Ikot Ekpene and Omoba roads. It has been a common sight to see stray cows even at nighttime wandering and constituting nuisance to the environment. Before this incident at the 7up junction which nearly took the life of the couple, cows being led to the abattoir beside the river had run amok and injured pedestrians and caused auto crash on road. The government should make haste and relocate the abattoir before to avert further accidents.”

  • Three killed, as APC chieftain escapes death in Rivers

    Three killed, as APC chieftain escapes death in Rivers

    Three persons were confirmed dead yesterday in a clash between supporters of People Democratic Party (PDP) and the loyalists of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

    In a related incident, a chieftain of the APC and Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Hon. Nwobueze Amadi, narrowly escaped death after suspected assassins invaded his private residence in Aluu community.

    According to reports, the dead are Anyanwu Ndubisi and  Collinus Dike, both from Ikwere Local Government Area and Prince Okparanwo Siyiba, popularly known as Defor, from Ahoada in Ahoada East Local government Area of the state.

    The brother to late Collinus Dike, Mr. John Dike, said his brother is not a member of any political party in the state.

    According to him, his late brother was hit by bullets fired during the clash between members of the two parties. He added that the corpse would not be buried until those responsible his death are arrested and prosecuted.

    “We know those who killed my brother in the name of politics. My brother is not a member of any of the political parties, but he was shot to death by his enemies. They intentional killed him.”

    Efforts to get the relatives of late Anyanwu proved abortive.

    Another victim, Defor was murdered in the morning at his residence in Ahoada by gunmen who invaded his house.

    An eyewitness, Justice Mbatauwa said  Defor was killed few days after he alerted the people in the area that some PDP chieftain were arming some youths in the area ahead of today’s election.

    Meanwhile, Hon. Nwobueze Amadi, who said he was speaking from his hideout,  said the council’s revenue chairman was arrested by the police few days ago, adding that the armed  men who came to arrest him were armed and ready to kill.

    He accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of using the police to intimidate the leaders of APC in Rivers State, with the aim of putting them out of circulation until after the election.

    “I am talking to you now from my hideout. Some heavily armed men invaded my house, and It is only God that saved me. I don’t know what the condition would have been if they had arrested me. Maybe they would have accused me of being in possession of arms as usual.

    “Two days ago, the same police arrested my revenue chairman and accused him of being in possession of AK47, which as far as I am concerned, is a fabricated lie. The Etche council boss was also arrested and the APC leaders in the state went to the police to protest his arrest. Today it is my turn, I don’t know what they want to achieve.”

    When contacted on phone, the Rivers Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Mohammad, did not pick his call. A text message detailing the matter was also forwarded to his phone. But he had not responded as at press time.