THE Nigeria Police recorded another sad loss to the prevailing security situation in parts of the country on Wednesday, as a surveillance aircraft deployed to monitor the security situation in the Jos metropolis crashed into a residential building, resulting in the death of four people.
Among the dead was Haruna John, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police from Benue and former Police Commissioner in Taraba. DIG Haruna was in the aircraft with a police aide at the time of the crash, which occurred near a secondary school in the Rukuba area of Jos.
The deceased DIG Haruna was one of the newly appointed DIGs after the appointment of Mohammed Abubakar as the Acting Inspector General of Police.
He was also at several times, Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory and the Niger State police command. He was also CP in charge Federal Operations at Force headquarters.
He served as Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Lagos State and Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge Anambra State.
John Haruna was scheduled to retire in 2016.
Nigerian public officials have been reacting to the sad loss. Amongst them is President Goodluck Jonathan, who said in a statement released on Wednesday that he “received with utmost sadness the tragic news of the death of senior police officers in a helicopter crash in Jos, Plateau State.
“The President 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.
“President Jonathan 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.
“The President prayed that Almighty God will accept the souls of the deceased and grant the nation the fortitude to bear this national loss.
Other leaders also released condolence messages, including the governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a special condolence, former Governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, called on the Federal Government to do everything possible to surmount the nation’s present security challenges, and bring succour to the families of the dead, adding that it was the only way to do justice to their memory.
He said: “DIG Haruna and the three others died in active service, protecting their dear country and our fellow citizens.
“To do honour to their memory, we must do everything to improve the dicey security situation in our country. We must also do everything to comfort the families they left behind, so as to encourage others to do their best for their country.”
Condoling with President Goodluck Jonathan, Tinubu called on the president to take heart on the crash but to further resolve to fix the present security challenges, adding that Nigerians looked forward to him in this moment of national grief.
“The president must plough on. He must involve everybody that can render a help to halt these needless bloodletting in our country. Together, I am sure, we can join hands and triumph over the present challenges,” he said.