Governor
of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, narrowly escaped death yesterday when his
plane crashed around 7p.m. at Ngulore village, 10 kilometres to Yola
International Airport in Adamawa State
The crash site is very close to the
Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC, Yola.
Three people died in the plane crash
while the governor got his hand broken. Two other occupants also survived the
crash with varying degrees of injuries.
Investigation revealed that a team of
medical experts at German Hospital, Yola, battled to save the lives of the
occupiers of the governor’s private jet until three of them died.
Their remains had been deposited at
the Yola mortuary. Governor Murtala Nyako was in the hospital till 10p.m.
A source said the governor was flown
to Abuja last night for further treatment.
The Chief Medical Director of the
Yola Specialist Hospital confirmed to journalists last night that Suntai
survived with an injury.
National Mirror learnt that Suntai was in command of the Cessna 208 with
the registration number 5N-BJM aircraft before it crashed with six persons on
board.
A source told National Mirror that the governor and others were
evacuated from the crash site in an ambulance by some of his security aides and
taken to the German Diagnostic Centre.
The aides, we learnt, were already
waiting for him at the Yola Airport before the accident.
The Minister of Aviation, Princess
Stella Oduah, last night confirmed the crash of a Cessna 208 aircraft, with
registration number, 5N-BMJ in Yola, Adamawa.
Oduah made the confirmation in a
statement issued by her Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Joe Obi.
She said the victims of the crash
came out alive and were rushed to a hospital in Adamawa for medical attention.
“An aircraft, Cessna 208 with six
people on board, including crew, operated by the Taraba State Government
departed Jalingo, Taraba State for Yola this evening and reported contact with
the Yola Control Tower at 17:20 p.m. and field in sight at 38 miles, estimating
landing at 17:30 p.m. “The pilot lost contact with Yola Control Tower and
subsequent effort to raise the aircraft failed.
“A search and rescue team was
immediately activated and site of the incident was located with all victims alive
with various degrees of injuries.
“The victims have been evacuated to
hospital for treatment, pending further investigation of the incident.”
Also, the Accident Investigation
Bureau, AIB, stated that it had deployed investigators to the site of the crash.
The image maker of the bureau, Mr.
Tunji Oketunbi in a statement stated that “occupants have been evacuated to the
hospitals. AIB officials will on getting to the site immediately commence
investigations. Further information will be relayed as available.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in
a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, called for
prayer for quick recovery of the governor.
“We received the news of the plane
crash with shock. We are officially awaiting news of the true position right
now and we urge all our members in Taraba to pray and Nigeria to pray for him,”
he said.
Suntai had gotten a private pilot
license in the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria in August
2010, after enrolling in private pilot license in the college.
Also, an unconfirmed information
alleged that Suntai had acquired the plane from the former House of
Representatives member, Hon Ibn Na’ Allah in 2010, shortly after graduating
from the college.
A source close to the governor who
does not want his name in print confided in our correspondent that Suntai was
issued with VSR certificate (visual flight) by the college in 2010 and wondered
why he embarked on night flight, which he was not license to do.