Nigeria - Helicopter Crash Kills Deputy Police Chief

A police helicopter crashed in central Nigeria on Wednesday, killing the country's deputy police chief and three other police officers, authorities and witnesses said.

"The Nigeria Police wishes to announce the death of DIG (deputy director general) Haruna John, the DIG in charge of operations," police spokesman Olusola Amore said in a statement that listed the other officers who were killed as well.

"The officers were on routine aerial patrol before the unfortunate incident occurred," the statement added.

There was no suggestion that the crash was anything other than a tragic accident.

A Reuters reporter in the central city of Jos saw the helicopter plunging earthwards engulfed in flames before it crash landed in-between two buildings.

"I saw this big fire ball come down from the sky and I thought: 'what is this?'," said witness Oluchi Right, 26, a graduate student. "It just hit the ground."

Witnesses said what was left of the helicopter was charred and giving off smoke.

Nigeria, like many African countries, has a poor air safety record, though some efforts have been made to improve it since a spate of airline disasters in 2005.

REUTERS