2 killed as helicopter crashes in Nigeria

By Olarewaju Kola

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AA) - Two people have been killed and another injured in a helicopter crash in Nigeria's commercial city of Lagos on Friday.

Ibrahim Farinloye, a spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), told Anadolu Agency a commercial helicopter suddenly crashed in Opebi area at about 12:00 p.m. local time (1100GMT).

"The pilot and a passenger died but we rescued one person, who was rushed to hospital," he told Anadolu Agency.

Hycient Okafor, an eyewitness, said he was at a nearby shop when the helicopter crashed.

"Fortunately, the area was not crowded at that time," he said.

The incident occurred barely a day after the national civil aviation authority issued a new guideline on air safety.

It warned pilot and technical crew to be conscious of the bad weather and adhere strictly to the guidelines and COVID-19 measures.