NIGERIA: Leader of Nigeria's Muslims among more than 100 dead in Nigerian airliner crash

The leader of Nigeria's Muslims was one of about 100 people killed on Sunday (October 29) when a domestic airliner crashed in bad weather shortly after takeoff from the Nigerian capital of Abuja, authorities said. An ADC Airlines official said 105 people were on board the Boeing 737 flight to the northern city of Sokoto when it ploughed into a corn field about 2 km (1 mile) from the runway. No more than five people survived the crash. A Reuters correspondent saw burned bodies, some missing limbs or heads, being loaded onto trucks amid the smouldering remains of the fuselage. Only the plane's tail, an engine and part of a wing were still recognisable at the crash site, an area the size of a football field littered with body parts, smouldering fires, clothes, boxes and bags. "We have a calamity on hand. But all hands are on deck. You can see the military. You can see policemen covering the area," Inspector General Sunday Ehindero said from the scene. "In no time, we shall tidy up this area and remove all these bodies." "What I observed here is a monumental tragedy for every Nigerian and it really is sad. My prayers are that the Lord, God of Hosts, may never allow this to happen again in our country or indeed anywhere. It's a terrible, terrible thing and we are doing everything in our power. The president has sent directives to do their best, to clear the site, give the bodies some level of dignity and do all that needs to be done but it's a tragedy for all Nigerians," said Nigerian Minister of Culture and Tourism Chief Fani Kayode, who was at the crash site. At least six survivors were rushed to a hospital in Abuja. One was placed in intensive care. "I can't recall anything. I just saw my friend outside and he's just waiting for me. He told me that we had a plane crash," said one man who was treated at hospital. Governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa declared six days of mourning for Ibrahim Muhammadu Maccido, who led an estimated 70 million Muslims in Africa's most populous country. The sultan was buried within hours of the crash. Maccido, who as Sultan of Sokoto was also the top traditional ruler of northern Nigeria, helped to curb religious bloodshed in the central state of Plateau in 2004. The governor of Abuja, Nasir el-Rufai, said there was bad weather at the time of the crash, but added that only a detailed investigation could determine the cause. The operator, ADC, is a popular domestic airline with an ageing fleet of Boeing jets. The office of President Olusegun Obasanjo issued a statement calling for a full investigation. It was the fourth significant air crash in Nigeria in just over a year. In October last year, 119 people died when a Bellview Airlines Boeing 737 crashed shortly after takeoff from Lagos. Last December a Sosoliso Airlines DC9 crashed on landing in Port Harcourt, killing 106 people. And in September, 12 Nigerian military personnel, mostly high-ranking officers, were killed in a plane crash in Benue state. The latest tragedy comes a month before the aviation industry is due to undergo an audit. After last year's crashes, Obasanjo ordered airlines and aviation authorities to improve safety standards.

ITN Source | October 30, 2006

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