A tragedy was averted today after the helicopter conveying Vice President Yemi Osibanjo from the Nigeria customs command and staff college, Gwagwalada, Abuja, was reportedly forced to make an emergency landing a few seconds after take-off due to technical issues.

The Nation reports that Osinbajo had been in the college on Thursday for the graduation ceremony of Senior Division Course 1/2018 participants.

The chopper had earlier taken the Vice President to the college for the ceremony.

Upon take off, the white chopper with yellow and blue stripes, could not ascend beyond the trees level before it emitted thick smoke and landed on the same spots few seconds after take off.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, had already departed from the venue with their respective convoys.

Osinbajo later left the college by road.