Former National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoeye Azazi (retd.), one of the victims of last Saturday’s naval helicopter crash in Bayelsa State, apparently had a premonition of death, someone who saw him minutes before the tragic accident has said.

Cosmas Asogwa, an acquaintance of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Dr. Oronto Douglas, travelled from Abuja, the Nigerian capital, to Nembe in Bayelsa to attend the burial of Oronto’s father, Pa Douglas Obebara – the same mission that took Azazi and Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State to Nembe.

Asogwa, who snapped the two distinguished personalities as they walked toward the Oronto family house, noticed something unusual about Azazi.

“Gen. Azazi’s militarybackgroundmay justify his somewhat hardphysiognomyupon arriving for the event but there was something strange about him,” Asogwa wrote late yesterday in his blog.

“If I may say, Azazi appeared more as somebody who had premonitions about his impending fate. I may not be able to find theexactwords with which I can use todescribe Azazi’s mood on that day, but obviously when juxtaposed with Yakowa, the latter appeared more serene and at peace with himself,” Asogwa added.

It would be recalled that the naval helicopter conveying Yakowa, Azazi and two of their aides back to Port Harcourt in neighbouring Rivers State for their flight back to their bases crashed around 4:30 p.m. in a swamp in Okoloba village, killing all four alongside the two pilots.

The Nigerian government has promised to investigate the accident.

•Photo: Late Gen. Azazi.