Just in: Top police officers, including DIG John Haruna, die in helicopter crash in Jos

Posted by admin National Politics, Nigerian Police, Raw Politics, Top Stories Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Newly promoted Deputy Inspector General of Police, John Haruna was
among several other senior police officers confirmed dead in a Surveillance
helicopter that crashed at noon today in the crisis ridden Jos, North Central
Nigeria.

The police helicopter which crashed into four houses in Kabong on a security
facility occurred just as it was conveying the DIG Operations, John Haruna
and the other Senior Police Officers back to Abuja.

Our reporter disclosed that seven uniformed men aboard the il-fated
helicopter and five children from four houses that it crashed into are feared
dead.

Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Samuel Dabai who
confirmed the incident said the details were still hazy.

“I am aware that a helicopter crashed this afternoon. I am trying to get the
details now”, Dabai said.

However, police sources are yet to issue an official confirmation of the ranks
and other victims of the crash.

Mr. Haruna is one of the five Commissioners of Police elevated to the rank of
DIG’s by the Police Service Commission last month.

He was the Commissioner of Police in charge of Benue State Command and
hails from Taraba State.

Haruna was at several times, Commissioner of Police in charge FCT and
Niger State. He was also CP in charge Federal Operations at Force
headquarters. He has served as Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge
Lagos State and Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge Anambra State.
He is billed for retirement in 2016.

The senior police officers were in Jos, Plateau State capital to stem the
escalation of violence in the city arising from a blast that rocked the St
Finbarrs Catholic Church on Sunday during the last mass.

Several worshippers died following the blast, a development which triggered
reprisal attacks by some Christian youths.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has described the
accident as “unfortunate and a temporary setback especially at this time that
all security forces are making concerted efforts to guarantee security
throughout the country.”

He commiserated with the families of the bereaved and the Police High
Command, urging them to take consolation in the fact that these “fine
officers” died in the course of national assignment.

-Africanexaminerwp_posts