A former Special Adviser on Political Matters to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Babafemi Ojudu, has recounted a chilling experience involving a 2019 helicopter crash in Kabba, Kogi State, which nearly claimed the life of then Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
Revisiting the incident, Ojudu disclosed that former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, had expressly warned Osinbajo against visiting Kabba, citing alleged spiritual dangers associated with the area. According to the political aide, Bello insisted that the people of Kabba possessed mystical powers and might pose a threat to the visiting dignitaries. As a result, the governor reportedly refused to receive Osinbajo and did not visit the crash site following the incident.
The helicopter mishap occurred during a political campaign when Osinbajo and his team were en route to Kabba aboard a Caverton-operated chopper. The aircraft included Ojudu, Minister of State for Labour Stephen Ochei, Femi Osinbajo, presidential media aide Laolu Akande, and security operatives. The flight protocol required an advance team—transported by a separate Nigeria Police helicopter—to land first and clear the area.
However, as Ojudu narrated, the Caverton helicopter descended prematurely before the dust raised by the first landing had settled. The result was a zero-visibility environment cloaked in a dense brown haze. The aircraft crash-landed with a powerful thud, shaking all passengers violently. Personal items flew across the cabin amid cries of panic. Despite the terrifying impact, all onboard survived.
Ojudu made the revelations while reacting to a recent helicopter tragedy in Ghana’s Ashanti region, which claimed the lives of two ministers and six others. He shared his account via a Facebook post titled “My Helicopter Crash Experience,” reflecting on the near-death event and the eerie warnings that preceded it.
He further remarked that despite their official capacities, many of the team members paid out of pocket for logistics and accommodation during the campaign trip. He noted that he would share more details in his forthcoming memoir.