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Tourist helicopter crashes into Russian lake

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A tourist aircraft carrying 16 people on Thursday crashed into a volcanic lake in Russia’s Far East.

Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said 13 tourists and three crew members were aboard the Mi-8 helicopter when it plunged into the lake.

Nine people were said to be missing while at least seven people survived the crash. According to state news agency RIA-Novosti, two out of the survivors were heavily injured.

According to preliminary information, the aircraft was on route from the village of Nikolayevka to the Kuril Lake and the Khodutka volcano when it crashed, the emergencies ministry said.

The Mi-8 – a medium twin-turbine helicopter – was carrying tourists from Moscow and St Petersburg, Russia’s news agency RIA reported.

The mountainous Kamchatka peninsula – more than 6,000 km (3,730 miles) east of Moscow – is popular among tourists.

Forty rescuers and divers were dispatched to the scene.

The nationalities of the tourists were not immediately listed, but reports said most of them came from Moscow or St. Petersburg.

Germany’s DW News reports a Russian investigation committee that probes air accidents as saying  it is reviewing a potential violation of air safety rules.

It also quoted a director of the helicopter, which was manufactured during the Soviet era 37 years ago, as saying it had recently undergone maintenance and was in good shape.

According to media reports, the local private carrier Vityaz-Aero is half-owned by businessman and member of the regional legislature Igor Redkin.

it recalls that last month, an An-26 twin-engined turboprop — manufactured from 1969-1986 — crashed in Kamchatka, killing all 28 people on board.

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Kaduna governor revokes land approved sold by El-Rufai

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Kaduna governor revokes land approved sold by El-Rufai

Kaduna State Government has revoked institutional houses and plots of land sold in the state by the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Governor Uba Sani on Tuesday ordered the revocation of the properties within Alhuda-huda College, Zaria; Queen Amina College, Kaduna and Government Commercial College, Zaria.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Dr. AbdulKadir Mu’azu Meyere, who announced the revocation in a statement, said the decision was taken for overriding public interest and for the common good.

He said efforts were being made to ensure all payments made to the government coffers in respect of the sold houses are refunded.

He said, “In line with its commitment to human capital development and to ensure conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning in schools, the Kaduna State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani, had revoked all previous sales of institutional houses and land allocations within Alhuda-huda College, Zaria, Queen Amina College, Kaduna and Government Commercial College, Zaria for overriding public interest and for the common good.

“The revocation was approved last year and the revocation order has been conveyed to all allottees, while steps are being taken to refund amounts paid in respect of the sold houses as directed by His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State.

“As one of the key pillars of His Excellency’s Human Capital Development, Uba Sani noted that effective learning can best take place in a conducive atmosphere without distractions and sundry interferences.

“The governor has always argued that education is not just a leveler but also a ladder for upward mobility which can transform lives and improve livelihoods.

“To secure the future of our children, the Governor has been expanding access to education in the last two years, by bridging the infrastructural deficit at both primary and secondary schools across Kaduna State.

“In fact, one of the first decisions that His Excellency took upon assuming office was the slashing of the school fees of Kaduna State-own tertiary institutions on August 21, 2023.

“Apart from tertiary institutions, the Senator Uba Sani administration has also improved access by building new primary and secondary schools as well as blocks of classrooms since he became Governor of Kaduna State.

“Indeed, the Sani-led administration has built over 2,336 new classrooms, renovated more than 707 others and provided 3,704 and 30,742 furniture, for teachers and pupils.

“Similarly, Kaduna State Government, has sunk 51 boreholes, provided 918 cubicle toilets for both pupils’ and teachers’ use in all the Local Governments to make learning more conducive.”

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IGP orders withdrawal of mobile police officers from VIPs

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IGP orders withdrawal of mobile police officers from VIPs

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the withdrawal of mobile police officers from VIPs across the country.

The directive is contained in a statement on Tuesday, issued by the spokesman for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Muyiwa Adejobi.

He said the move was part of the reorganisation of the Police Mobile Force (PMF).

“He expressed concern over the diversion of PMF personnel to non-core roles, including escort and guard duties for private individuals and VIPs, a trend which has undermined the unit’s effectiveness,” the statement read.

“To address this, the IGP has announced a series of measures including the immediate withdrawal of PMF personnel from unauthorized deployments, regular quarterly training focused on ethics and professionalism, and mandatory standby of fully equipped, combat-ready units across all Squadrons for rapid tactical support.”

According to the IGP, all PMF Commanders will be held accountable for the conduct of their personnel.

The IGP however urged them to lead proactively through regular training, inspections, and mentorship aimed at upholding discipline, respect for human rights, and operational excellence.

 

THE IGP’S FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

PRESS RELEASE

INTERNAL SECURITY: IGP REORGANIZES POLICE MOBILE FORCE FOR EFFECTIVENESS

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has announced the immediate reorganization of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) as part of efforts to strengthen internal security and enhance operational readiness. The directive was unveiled during a conference with PMF Squadron Commanders at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, 22nd April, 2025.

The IGP emphasized the need to reposition the PMF in line with its original mandate as the Nigeria Police Force’s elite strike unit, designed to respond swiftly to riots, emergencies, and violent threats.

He expressed concern over the diversion of PMF personnel to non-core roles, including escort and guard duties for private individuals and VIPs, a trend which has undermined the unit’s effectiveness.

To address this, the IGP has announced a series of measures including the immediate withdrawal of PMF personnel from unauthorized deployments, regular quarterly training focused on ethics and professionalism, and mandatory standby of fully equipped, combat-ready units across all Squadrons for rapid tactical support.

The IGP also declared that PMF Commanders will be held accountable for the conduct of their personnel and urged them to lead proactively through regular training, inspections, and mentorship aimed at upholding discipline, respect for human rights, and operational excellence.

Reaffirming the Force’s commitment to restoring the PMF to its rightful role as a disciplined and dependable tactical arm, the IGP highlighted plans to introduce new leadership strategies and capacity-building initiatives designed to meet modern security challenges and align with global best practices.

The Inspector-General of Police while extending appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his support, acknowledged the critical contributions of the Force’s international partners in enhancing training and technical capacity.

The IGP charged all PMF Squadron Commanders to embrace the reform as a professional and moral responsibility, reiterating that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to its mandate of safeguarding lives, property, and national security.

ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI,

FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

FORCE HEADQUARTERS

ABUJA.

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Tinubu returns to Nigeria after France, UK trip

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Tinubu returns to Nigeria after France, UK trip

 

President Bola Tinubu has returned Nigeria after his working visit to France and the UK.

Tinubu was received by senior officials of his administration when he arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday night.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returns to Abuja after a visit to Paris and London,” presidential aide Dada Olusegun wrote in a post on his X handle.

Some of the officials who were at the airport to welcome Tinubu are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The President left for Paris, the French capital, on April 2 for a “short working visit,” according to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.

Onanuga said during the visit, the president will review his administration’s feats.

But his recent travel has divided opinions among Nigerians, especially in the wake of renewed killings in some parts of the country, particularly in Plateau and Benue states.

Leaders of the opposition, including Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s  Atiku Abubakar, were vocal in their criticisms of the president’s continued stay in Europe despite the crushing wave of insecurity ravaging the country.

However, the presidency stoutly defended Tinubu’s trip, saying the Nigerian leader did not travel to seek medical care as speculated in some quarters.

“Sometimes on social media, somebody will be tweeting, you don’t even know who the person is; it can be somebody who has mental health issues somewhere,” presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala said on an edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today.

“You just see that information is coming out. “The president did not go to see a doctor; he’s on a working visit and we have been publishing his activities”.

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