Ministry Begins Investigations Into Police Helicopter Crash

The Acting Inspector General of  Police (IG), Mr Mohammed Abubakar says the Federal Ministry of Aviation has begun investigations into the cause of the police helicopter crash in Jos last Wednesday.

Abubakar who announced this Sunday at a joint news conference with the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Calebo Olubolade (rtd), said the crash for now remained an “accident unless the investigation proved otherwise.

The Federal Ministry of Aviation, who is the expert, has been initiated to conduct an investigation. So we should wait to see the outcome.

The IG said that the crash was the first the police had recorded with its helicopters and assured that the accident would not deter its determination to provide security in the country.

This is the price to pay in the service of this country; on our part, we shall continue to do our best to serve this country and we will rededicate our efforts in making safety and security of this country our priority,” he said. Earlier, Olubolade had described the death of Mr Haruna John, a Deputy Inspector General of Police and three others in the crash, as a “tragic loss to the police and a sad moment in the country”.

As a result of insecurity in the land, these officers have to pay the supreme price, it is unfortunate; they lost their lives in the cause of tackling current security challenges.

Olubolade described the deceased as “brilliant and active officers” who were committed to their job.

The minister said the government would support the families of the deceased, adding that already the ministry and the police authorities were working out the modality to support them.

Our correspondent reports that shortly after the conference, the IG paid condolence visit to the family late Sgt. Sonatian Shirunam, the orderly to late Haruna, Nyanya in the FCT, who also died in the crash.

Abubakar re-assured the wife and six children of the determination of the police to assist them.

No fewer than 93 people, including Gov Emmanuel Uduanghan of Delta and former Senate President Joseph Wayas, had signed condolence register opened for the deceased officers at the Police Headquarters in Abuja.