Airforce chopper carrying election materials crashes in Bayelsa ( Nigeria).

A Nigerian Air Force helicopter carrying election materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for tomorrow's gubernatorial and State of Assembly election in Bayelsa State has reportedly crashed.

The chopper travelling from Port Harcourt crashed enroute Yenegoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
 
The helicopter, MI-135 which took off from the Nigerian Air Force base in Port Harcourt loaded with the election materials and officials of INEC, took off a few minutes after noon local time for Yenagoa and crashed near Igbogene landing pad at about 1 p.m.
 
Reports say one of the engines developed a mechanical problem forcing the pilot into emergency landing.  However, no life was lost in the incident as the pilot and the crew member as well as the INEC officials narrowly escaped unhurt while all the materials meant for the elections were all intact as the helicopter was said to have been promptly stabilized by the pilots.
The Director, Public Relations of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Anas confirmed the incident in a statement he issued in Abuja.
  According to him, an assessment team sent by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Umar has visited the scene of the incident while another Mi-35 Helicopter was used to airlift the INEC officials and materials to other parts of Bayelsa State.  
 
The Nigerian Air Force  has been actively involved in the logistical distribution of INEC materials all over the country since the commencement of the April polls.
Source SilverBird Television and  Africanoutlookonline.com