Kaduna governor, Patrick Yakowa, killed in an air crash.

Nigeria air crash kills Kaduna governor Patrick Yakowa 15 December 2012 Last updated at 20:19 The governor of Nigeria's Kaduna statehas been killed in a helicopter crash in thesouthern delta region along with other senior officials, his party says. Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa and former national security adviser Gen Owoye Azazi were on the helicopter which came down in Bayelsa state. Nigerian media said the helicopter belonged to the Nigerian navy and had been taking officials to Port Harcourt. Nigeria has a poor air safety record, analysts say. In March a police helicoptercarrying a high-ranking police official crashed in the central city of Jos, killing four people. "The nation has lost a great patriot who in about two years in saddle as theGovernor of Kaduna State demonstrated an unyielding capacity in wielding together varying fragile interests," the Peoples Democratic Party said in a statement. Kaduna, in northern Nigeria, is a volatile regionwith a mixed population of Muslims and Christians. The Islamist militants of Boko Haram have frequently targeted Kaduna churches.