Metro

Military, NEMA Comb Sea For Crashed Helicopter’s Passengers

Published

1 year ago

October 25, 2024

A Sikorsky SK76 helicopter operated by East Wind Aviation crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, killing three persons.

The military, National Emergency Management Agency and emergency locators immediately began search operations for the passengers of the helicopter.

The aircraft, conveying workers of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, ditched into the ocean and no one was yet to have come out alive from the incidents as of the time of filing this report.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the unfortunate incident to our correspondent through a statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Odutayo Oluseyi.

The accident occurred at approximately 11:22 am on Thursday along the waterways near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean, while the helicopter was en route from Port Harcourt Military Base to the NUIMANTAN oil rig.

The aircraft had eight people on board, six of which were staffers of the NNPC, and two crew members.

Oluseyi expressed the minister’s deep pains and extended his prayers to the families of the deceased.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those on board, and we are committed to providing the necessary support during this difficult time.

“While no Emergency Locator Transmitter signal was received, manual efforts to determine the accident location are underway.

“All available resources, including the military and low-flying aircraft, have been deployed to assist in locating and rescuing any survivors. So far, three bodies have been recovered,” the statement read.

An incident report by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau explained how the aircraft came down into the Atlantic Ocean.

The NSIB, in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, stated that the helicopter, which was carrying eight individuals including “six passengers and two crew members”, went down into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off the coast of Calabar, during a routine flight.

The PUNCH had reported earlier that three people lost their lives in the helicopter crash in Rivers state.

Olajide explained that the tragedy struck after the helicopter, which was en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base, lost contact with controllers around 10:52 am.

He added that the sudden loss of contact between the control room and the aircraft forced the authorities to manually plot the accident’s location to expedite search and rescue efforts.

The statement reads: “The aircraft was en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base to the Anton Offshore Facility when it lost contact with air traffic controllers around 10:52 am. Operating under Visual Flight Rules, the helicopter did not transmit an Emergency Locator Transmitter signal, prompting authorities to manually plot the accident’s location to expedite search and rescue efforts.

“Search and rescue operations were activated immediately, with the NSIB collaborating closely with the National Emergency Management Agency, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Nigerian Armed Forces, and other relevant agencies.

“Emergency response teams are actively working to locate survivors, with three bodies recovered so far. The search continues with support from neighbouring aerodromes, military units, and low-flying aircraft.”

The Director General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh, expressed sorrow over the incident, adding that his prayers were with the families of the deceased.

Badeh stated, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this tragic incident. We are fully committed to uncovering the circumstances surrounding this accident. We will work diligently to ensure that all necessary information is collected.

“The public must avoid speculation during this sensitive time, as our focus is on providing clarity and accountability through our investigation.”

Additionally, the NSIB said it was actively preparing to dispatch a go-team to the scene to gather evidence and conduct a comprehensive analysis.

“A preliminary report will be issued in due course to provide updates on the investigation’s progress.

“We remain dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability through our independent accident investigation process, ultimately enhancing transportation safety in Nigeria,” the NSIB said.

Also in a statement by the NNPCL signed by its spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, the company said the appropriate authorities had been contacted, including the Ministry of Aviation.

He added that the company’s prayers were with the families of the deceased, promising that updates would be given as events unfolded.

The statement read: “On the 24th of October 2024, about 11:22 am, we lost contact with the Helicopter – Register Number: 5NBQG, engaged by NNPC Limited, that took off from Port Harcourt NAF Base en route to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN. The helicopter was operated by East Winds Aviation.

“There were eight persons on board (six passengers and two crew members). The appropriate authorities have been contacted, including the Ministry of Aviation, who have since issued a press statement.

“Search and rescue missions are currently ongoing. So far, three bodies have been recovered. We shall continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates as the events unfold.

“Our prayers are with the passengers, crew and their respective families at this very difficult time. We will continue to do everything possible to support the ongoing search and rescue operation.”

In the history of Nigerian aviation, a large number of air crashes involving passenger planes have been recorded.

The Kano crash of BOAC Argonaut in 1956 may have been the beginning of all the unfortunate air crashes that followed suit.

While some were as fatal as claiming the lives of the entire passengers and crew, some recorded notable survivals.

The last in history in the country occurred in 2021, as the NAF Beechcraft King Air aircraft crashed en route to Kaduna International Airport from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport.
PUNCH

Metro

Alleged Organ Harvesting: Bereaved Families Rush To Check Corpses

Published

4 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Editor

Families who deposited their deceased relations at the Aigbe Mortuary, Akugbe Street, off Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, have since Monday been besieging the facility to ascertain the condition of their loved ones.

This followed the discovery of an alleged case of organ harvesting at the mortuary.

A mortuary attendant was arrested by operatives of the Edo State Police Command as a result of the incident.

A visit to the hospital, which operates the mortuary and serves the densely populated Upper Sakponba area, revealed that some family members were present to check the condition of the corpses they deposited, while others made frantic efforts to transfer their deceased relatives to other mortuaries.

Osariemen Desmond who happens to be one of the persons who were at mortuary said his late mother’s corpse was deposited at the mortuary, adding that he was there to ensure nothing had happened to her remains, as the family plans to bury her next year.

“I am here because of the story we heard about organ harvesting last Friday. I just want to be sure that my mother’s corpse is safe. Many people have been coming since Monday to transfer the corpses of their deceased family members to other mortuaries, while others just came to be sure that nothing has happened to the corpses they deposited. But for me, I am here to be sure that my mum’s corpse is intact,” he said.

However, a member of staff of the hospital, who declined to have his name in print, said the mortuary had never been involved in organ harvesting.

He explained that the deceased whose corpse was allegedly tampered with had died as a result of poisoning, which may have affected his internal organs.

“There is nothing like organ harvesting here. The man in question died from poisoning, and that may have affected his internal organs,” he said.

However, the Edo State Police Command, in a statement released by its Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the Command had launched an investigation into the matter and would ensure that anyone found guilty faces the full weight of the law.

She said: “The Edo State Police Command has launched an intensive and far-reaching investigation into a disturbing allegation of unlawful tampering with a human corpse and theft of human parts at Akugbe Mortuary, located along Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City—an incident that sparked public outrage and nearly culminated in mob violence.

“On December 12, 2025, the Command received an urgent distress call indicating that a mortuary attendant was on the verge of being lynched by an irate crowd over allegations of organ harvesting. Acting with swift precision, the Divisional Police Officer, Ugbekun Division, immediately mobilised operatives to the scene and successfully rescued the suspect, thereby averting a breakdown of law and order.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that one Marvelous Odeh and others had visited the mortuary to claim the corpse of the late Uyi Enogieru for burial. However, upon completion of the required formalities, it was discovered that the corpse had been unlawfully interfered with and that some body parts were missing, prompting a report to the Police.

“The suspect has since been taken into custody and, on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough, professional, and discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

Metro

Suspected Kidnappers Abduct 18 Passengers On Benin-Akure Road

Published

3 days ago

December 15, 2025

Editor

Kidnappers have abducted 18 passengers along the Benin-Akure highway, near Obarenren village, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The kidnappers were said to have fired sporadically before taking their victims into the bush.

Edo State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the incident in Benin on Monday.

Ikoedem, while stating that a joint security operation had launched a manhunt for the abductors, added that a “massive bush combing led to the rescue of 11 victims.”

The PPRO, who said efforts were on to rescue other victims, noted: “The incident happened last Saturday. The passengers were in a 18-seater Big Joe bus. We have been combing the bush in collaboration with the Nigerian Army.

“No Arrest has been made yet.”

Metro

NDLEA Seizes 457kg of Cannabis, Arrests Suspected Trafficker In Edo

Published

3 days ago

December 15, 2025

Editor

Photo: file copy

Operatives the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, have arrested a 44-year-old suspected drug trafficker, Ohiomah Igbafe, at Uroe community in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The command also seized 457 kilograms of skunk cannabis concealed at the suspect’s hideout
in the operation that took place on December 9, 2025,

The State Commander of the anti-narcotic agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, who disclosed this in a press statement said: “The suspect was found in possession of 15 bags of cannabis sativa weighing a total of 457 kilograms, in addition to a separate sack containing four kilograms of cannabis seeds.”

He described the arrest as a significant milestone in the agency’s ongoing campaign against drug trafficking in the state.

He said: “The operation reflects our undying commitment to the eradication of drug trafficking within Edo State. The quantity of illegal drugs seized in this raid represents a serious threat to public health and safety. This level of success encourages us to continue to confront drug cartels relentlessly.”

He added that the agency would not relent in its efforts to dismantle criminal drug networks, warning that offenders would be pursued without mercy.

“We want to send a clear message that drug traffickers and their collaborators have no safe harbour in Edo State.”