Yakowa, Azazi and four others Dead in Helicopter Crash

 Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa and Andrew Azazi

Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa and immediate-past National Security Adviser, Andrew Azazi are dead. 

They died Saturday afternoon when the naval helicopter conveying them from the burial of the father of Oronto Douglas, the Special Adviser on Research and Documentation to President Jonathan, crashed in the creeks of Bayelsa State.

The helicopter went down between 3.30 and 4 pm.

Their remains have been taken to Yenegoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.

Six people were said to be in the chopper including the two.


UPDATE:

The four other occupants of the chopper were named as: Dauda Tsoho, an aide to Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna and Warrant Officer Mohammed Kamal, an aide to former National Security Adviser, Owoye Azazi, and the pilots, Commander Muritala Mohammed Daba and Lt. Adeyemi O. Sowole.

“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has expressed utter shock and sadness over the crash Saturday in Bayelsa State of a military helicopter resulting in the death of Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and former National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Owoye Azazi (rtd), their aides, Dauda Tsoho and Warrant Officer Mohammed Kamal and the pilots, Commander Muritala Mohammed Daba and Lt. Adeyemi O. Sowole,” the statement said.

“The President extends deep and heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the deceased, and the governments and people of Kaduna and Bayelsa States. He describes the sudden loss of these distinguished Nigerians as extremely painful to the entire nation.

“President Jonathan has ordered an investigation into the cause(s) of the crash.”