Transportation

By Olusegun Folarin 

Two persons have reportedly died while two people sustained injuries in a crash that occurred at Castinjo-Ola Bus Stop along Ota-Idiroko Road.

The accident which occurred at twelve minutes to seven this morning involved a truck with no registration number and a bus marked LND 224 GF.

Witnesses claimed that the Truck with no number plate was driving inbound Idiroko from Ota when the driver, due to drunk driving and excessive speed, lost control and rammed into the bus driving in the opposite direction from Idiroko to Ota.

They noted that the driver of the bus and the motor boy died on the spot due to the impact of the collision while the drunk driver of the truck and his motor boy ran away.

Confirming the incident, the Spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi said the presumed dead had been deposited to General Hospital Ifo.

Mr Akinbiyi while commiserating with the families of the deceased, reminded motorists of the need to desist from drunk driving and excessive speed in view of its attendant consequences.

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Crime

Governor Ademola Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, has alleged sabotage over the averted air plane crash involving the Governor and some of his aides.

Governor Adeleke was scheduled to fly from Lagos to Abuja on his elder brother, Dr Deji Adeleke’s private jet but the pilot had to call it off after discovering fault in the engine a minute just as it began taxing.

However contrary to report that the engine explode after taxing, Rasheed disclosed that a laud noise was heard just after taxing on the tarmac.

He also described excuse given by owners of the hanger that a bird nest within the engine led to the fault, saying their are strong reasons to believe that the two engines in the aircraft were tampered with.

According to him, the highly technically equipped aircraft was well maintained with the best technical crew and was never an unused platform where birds could build nests.

“Contrary to the claim by the hanger owner that birds’ nests caused the incident, birds’ nests are made with straws not bidding wires as in this case.

“The near fatal incident was averted shortly after boarding and less than two minutes after commencement of taxing on the tarmac.

“An early warning noise from the engines immediately prompted the pilots to direct evacuation of the passengers. Everything happened within five minutes.

“Early reports from internal investigation indicated sabotage. But the authorities, locally and internationally, are still investigating the incident.

“We however want to assure the public that Governor Adeleke and his aides are safe and there was no injury or any outward explosion on the plane.

“The Governor expressed his deep appreciation to well wishers and supporters who have been calling since the report of the incident. Mr Governor is hale and hearty.”

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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News

A plane in the fleet of Max Air on Saturday rammed into an Air Peace plane at the Benin airport, damaging the elevator and rendering the plane grounded and unserviceable in the aftermath of the accident.

Air Peace said that no fatalities were recorded in the accident which happened about 2 pm.

A statement by the airline says “The management of Air Peace hereby notifies the general public that an incident occurred today around 14:00hrs at the Benin Airport, Edo State, when a taxing Max Air aircraft 5N-ADB rammed its right wing onto our parked aircraft, 5N-BUQ, which was boarding our Abuja bound passengers at the time the incident occurred.

“The hit damaged the left elevator of our aircraft thereby rendering the aircraft grounded and unserviceable.

“Passengers on-board the Air Peace aircraft were disembarked and another aircraft deployed to operate the flight.

“We sincerely apologise to all the passengers this situation would likely affect today for any inconvenience caused them, as a result.”

Adewumi Faniran

Transportation

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, has instituted an investigative panel to determine the remote and immediate causes of the accident of its aircraft, that crashed while returning to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja after reporting engine failure enroute Minna, where it was scheduled to conduct surveillance missions over Niger State and its environs in connection with the concerted efforts to secure the release of the students/staff abducted from the Government Science College Kagara, Niger State.

In a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, While the panel has commenced its work, the NAF, having notified the Next of Kins/family members of the deceased, announces that the following 7 personnel who lost their lives in the crash:

They are Flight Lieutenant Haruna Gadzama (Captain), Flight Lieutenant Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot),Flying Officer Micheal Okpara an Airborne Tactical Observation System,ATOS, Specialist.

Others are Warrant Officer Bassey Etim,ATOS Specialist, Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi,ATOS Specialist, Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka,ATOS Specialist and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson,Onboard Technician.

Earlier, the Chief of the Air Staff visited the scene of the accident, in company of the Honourable Minister of Defence, retired Major General Bashir Magashi, Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor, and other Service Chiefs.

The CAS, on behalf of officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF, commiserates with the families of the deceased personnel and prays that the Almighty God grants their souls eternal repose.

Chukwuma Agbanusi