Bayelsa Crash: CAN calls for probe

…says outcome must be made public

THE President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has urged the Federal Government to ensure that the investigation into last Saturday’s helicopter crash in Bayelsa was thorough, reports JOSEPH ERUNKE.

The CAN president said he was worried at the frequency of air mishaps in Nigeria, the latest of which was last Saturday’s crash.

Pastor Oritsejafor who issued a statement Wednesday, in Abuja, through his Special Assistant  on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Kenny Ashaka, commiserating with the families of those who lost their loved ones, regretted that Nigeria has lost many lives in recent times through air mishaps.

The CAN president said he backed  the Federal Government, the Nigerian Navy and the Senate’s plan to investigate the mishap just as he expressed satisfaction with the decision of the Governors’ Forum to engage a consultant to serve as an observer in the investigation.

File photo: Scene of the crash, near Okoroba in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa state. Photo: Samuel Oyandongha.

“All hands must be on deck because Nigeria cannot afford to lose highly placed government officials, other categories of the Nigerians,” the statement said, adding “the investigations must involve aircraft investigation specialists in order to ensure that such panels come up with recommendations that would forestall future occurrences and avert rumour being peddled.

“This time, the outcome of such investigations must be made public and their recommendations implemented after due process must have been followed”, the statement added.