Liverpool have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike in a deal initially worth £69 million ($92 million), according to reports on Monday.
The Premier League champions turned their attention to Ekitike after failing to secure a move for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, who remains untouchable with a valuation of around £150 million.
Both Newcastle and Manchester United were also tracking the highly rated French forward, but Liverpool appear to have won the race for one of Europe’s most exciting young attacking talents.
The deal includes potential add-ons worth an additional £10 million, which could raise the total fee to £79 million.
Upon finalizing the move, the 23-year-old is expected to join Arne Slot’s squad for their ongoing pre-season tour of Asia.
Ekitike enjoyed an impressive campaign last season, scoring 22 goals in 48 appearances for Frankfurt after making a move from Paris Saint-Germain. He was left out of the squad for Saturday’s friendly against FSV Frankfurt, with Eintracht head coach Dino Toppmöller acknowledging his likely departure, calling it “a bitter loss.”
Liverpool are looking to reshape their attacking options following the tragic death of Diogo Jota in a car accident in Spain. In addition, Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez is reportedly available for transfer, while Colombian winger Luis Díaz has attracted interest from Bayern Munich who have already had a bid rejected.
Ekitike’s arrival will mark Liverpool’s latest major signing in a busy summer window, having already spent £116 million to bring in German playmaker Florian Wirtz. The Reds have also added full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth respectively, as well as Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia.
The woman behind a pro-Palestinian activist group appeared in court on Monday to contest the UK government’s move to blacklist the organization under terrorism legislation, a decision her legal team described as having “the hallmarks of an authoritarian and blatant abuse of power”.
Huda Ammori, who co-founded Palestine Action in 2020, is asking the High Court in London to allow a full legal challenge against the ban, which was imposed on claims that the group carried out or took part in terrorist activities.
Earlier this month, the court turned down Ammori’s request to suspend the ban. After a final appeal failed, the proscription became effective just after midnight on July 5. The ban makes involvement with the group a criminal offense, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
According to her lawyer Raza Husain, the case marks the first time a direct action organisation has been designated as a terrorist group, arguing that this move breaks from “the honourable history of civil disobedience on conscientious grounds in our country”.
Since the ban, several individuals have been arrested for displaying signs seen to support the group. Ammori’s legal team also claims that police have increased their surveillance of individuals showing solidarity with Palestinians.
The UK’s interior minister, Yvette Cooper, maintains that acts involving violence or property destruction do not qualify as lawful protest. She cited incidents such as storming a military facility and damaging two aircraft as grounds for the government’s decision.
Palestine Action has stepped up actions against UK-based companies with ties to Israel, frequently disrupting their operations by vandalising property or blocking access. The group accuses the British authorities of enabling alleged war crimes committed by Israel during its military campaign in Gaza.
Israel, however, denies all allegations of misconduct in the war, which began after Hamas launched a surprise assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Bayelsa State has appealed for the creation of 25 new local government areas, aiming to raise the total number of councils in the state from eight to 33. This request was presented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN), during a public hearing conducted by the House of Representatives’ Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, held on Saturday at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall in Yenagoa. The session, which included participants from Bayelsa, Delta, and Edo states, was part of the South-South Centre A zonal consultation for the constitutional amendment process. Dambo justified Bayelsa’s proposal by stating that the existing eight local government areas are overburdened, with some overseeing more than 150 communities. He maintained that Bayelsa possesses both the administrative capacity and financial resources to support the establishment of the proposed new local government councils. According to a statement issued by Daniel Alabrah, Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, the state also made compelling arguments for a comprehensive review of the local government structure, the enforcement of local government autonomy, and reforms to the exclusive and concurrent legislative lists. Bayelsa also pushed for broad constitutional amendments, including electoral reforms aimed at strengthening the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission, as well as judicial reforms to enhance the efficiency of the justice system. The state called for a restructured federation rooted in the principle of fiscal federalism. It recommended that federating units be granted full ownership and control of both onshore and offshore natural resources within their territories, with 60 per cent of the revenue retained and 40 per cent remitted to the Federal Government. Regarding security, the state reaffirmed its backing for the establishment of state police, asserting that Nigeria is ready for decentralised policing consistent with the principles of true federalism. “State police will strengthen the capacity of states to fight crime and provide adequate security,” the state asserted, adding that “the agitation for state police is in the spirit of true federalism.” Earlier in his remarks, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, described the constitutional review as a timely initiative designed to align the nation’s legal framework with present-day realities and the aspirations of its citizens. According to him, Bayelsa is committed to the emergence of a “truly federal system and structure that is genuinely just, equitable, responsive, and demonstrably dedicated to the holistic development of not just the state or the Niger Delta region but also the Nigerian federation.” He stressed the importance of correcting “historical injustices related to the inequitable allocation of resources, alongside the glaring disparities in the creation and distribution of local government areas.” Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, was represented at the event by his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, while Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, was represented by the Attorney General, Mr. Samson Osagie. Both governors voiced their support for the constitutional review process, describing it as a vital opportunity to correct the shortcomings and close the gaps in the existing 1999 Constitution. They characterised the current Constitution as a “very controversial document” that requires urgent reform. Presiding over the session, the Chairman of the South-South Centre A and Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, gave the assurance that all submissions would be carefully evaluated by the Constitution Review Committee before being presented to the House. “The stakeholders’ engagement is aimed at having a more inclusive democratic governance,” Ihonvbere said. The public hearing drew a large turnout, with notable attendees including the wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, Dr. Gloria Diri; the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; and Bayelsa’s representatives in the House of Representatives—Fred Agbedi (Sagbama/Ekeremor), Marie Ebikake (Nembe/Brass), Dr. Mitema Obordor (Ogbia), and Rodney Ambaiowei (Southern Ijaw). Also present were the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere; the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor; the Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff; the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Bubaraye Dakolo; along with other traditional rulers from Bayelsa, Delta, and Edo states.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in Nigeria has recently been at the center of controversy due to a viral press statement alleging the cancellation of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). This incident has reignited discussions about WAEC’s history of result cancellations and the measures taken to address examination malpractice.
Recent Claims Of 2025 WASSCE Cancellation
On Saturday, July 19, 2025, a false press statement circulated widely on social media, claiming that the Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with WAEC, had cancelled the entire 2025 WASSCE due to widespread examination malpractice, coordinated leakage of question papers, and unauthorized digital dissemination of exam materials. The statement, purportedly signed by a Dr. (Mrs.) Aisha Lawal, Director-General of the Federal Examinations Regulatory Board, alleged that over 480 examination centers were flagged for coordinated cheating patterns and that AI-generated answers and remote cheating tools were used extensively. It further claimed that all papers written between May 6 and July 18, 2025, had been nullified, with a new timetable to be announced by August 5. This misinformation caused significant panic among candidates, parents, and schools, prompting swift responses from both WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education to clarify the situation.
WAEC’s Reaction To The Cancellation
WAEC promptly debunked the viral statement, describing it as “spurious” and the work of “mischief-makers” bent on causing confusion and discrediting the council. In a statement issued on Sunday, July 20, 2025, signed by Moyosola Adesina, Acting Head of Public Affairs, WAEC categorically denied cancelling the 2025 WASSCE. The council emphasized that the examination had been successfully concluded, with the marking of scripts completed, and results were set to be released on or before August 4, 2025. WAEC reiterated that its official communications are disseminated only through verified channels, including its social media handles and accredited media platforms, urging stakeholders to disregard unverified reports. The council also highlighted its commitment to maintaining the integrity of its examinations and thanked the public for their continued trust over its 73-year history. Additionally, WAEC addressed earlier rumors from May 2025, when a fake press release claimed the English Language paper, written on May 28, 2025, had been cancelled due to delays in its conduct. WAEC clarified that the delay was due to heightened efforts to curb examination malpractice, particularly paper leakages, and confirmed that the exam remained valid.
How Many Times Has WAEC Cancelled Results?
Historically, WAEC has rarely cancelled entire examinations or results across the board, but it has taken action in cases of significant malpractice. The council’s approach typically involves withholding or cancelling results for specific candidates or examination centers where irregularities, such as cheating or leakage of question papers, are confirmed. According to WAEC’s rules and regulations, cases of examination malpractice are addressed by the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC), which may withhold results, cancel specific papers, or bar candidates from future examinations. While comprehensive data on the exact number of cancellations is not publicly detailed in the provided sources, notable instances include: Localized Cancellations: WAEC has cancelled results for specific candidates or centers in cases of proven malpractice. For example, in the 2025 WASSCE, isolated incidents of malpractice were reported and addressed without affecting the entire examination. Paper-Specific Issues: In some years, specific subjects have faced issues due to leakages. For instance, in 2025, concerns about the English Language paper leakage were investigated, but the exam was not cancelled. Historical Context: Over its 73-year history, WAEC has maintained a reputation for addressing malpractice on a case-by-case basis rather than cancelling entire examinations. The council’s rigorous processes, including the use of invigilators and inspectors, aim to minimize irregularities. No verified records from the provided sources or WAEC’s official communications indicate a nationwide cancellation of an entire WASSCE in Nigeria. The 2025 incident, therefore, appears to be a false alarm rather than a reflection of WAEC’s historical practices.
What The Government Is Saying About It
The Federal Ministry of Education, through its Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, issued a statement on Sunday, July 20, 2025, dismissing the viral report as “entirely fabricated, misleading, and intended to cause unnecessary panic and confusion.” The ministry clarified that the 2025 WASSCE had been successfully concluded with only minimal, isolated cases of malpractice, which were promptly handled. It also noted that the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations were proceeding smoothly with no reported malpractice. The ministry emphasized that it had not received any official reports from WAEC or NECO about widespread malpractice and had not authorized any cancellation. It urged students, parents, and school administrators to rely on verified sources, such as the ministry’s official website (www.education.gov.ng), WAEC’s website (www.waecnigeria.org), and NECO’s website (www.neco.gov.ng), for accurate information. The ministry also warned that individuals spreading false information would face investigation and potential prosecution by security agencies. Boriowo reiterated that no decision to cancel the WASSCE had been made, describing the circulating report as “fake news” and assuring the public that an official statement was forthcoming to further clarify the situation.
The 2025 WASSCE cancellation rumors highlight the dangers of misinformation in the digital age, particularly when it targets critical educational processes. WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education have acted swiftly to dispel these rumors, ensuring candidates and stakeholders remain confident in the examination’s integrity. While WAEC has a history of addressing malpractice through targeted measures, there is no evidence of a nationwide cancellation of results in 2025 or in previous years. As the council prepares to release the 2025 WASSCE results by August 4, 2025, candidates are advised to stay informed through official channels and avoid unverified social media reports.
Under the scorching Abuja sun, former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, touching down at 1:45 PM GMT+1. Stepping onto the presidential wing, Odinga was warmly welcomed by Nigerian officials, including Ambassador Chris Iyama, convener of the upcoming International Conference on Africa’s Democracy (ICAD) 2025. With a firm handshake and words of appreciation, Iyama acknowledged Odinga’s esteemed presence at the highly anticipated summit.
Excitement filled the air as Odinga made his way through the airport. His participation in ICAD 2025, scheduled for July 22–23, has generated major interest among political leaders, civil society actors, and youth advocates across the continent. Widely respected as a statesman and pro-democracy icon, Odinga’s insights on credible elections, economic transformation, and institutional accountability are among the most anticipated segments of the conference.
As he joins a lineup of influential African voices, Odinga is expected to help shape critical conversations on governance, sustainable development, and the future of African democracy. The conference organized by CYPA Africa and supported by media partner LN247, will be live-streamed to ensure a broad audience across Africa and beyond can engage with its thought-provoking sessions.
With his keynote address ahead, Raila Odinga’s legacy as a champion of people-centered governance and democratic resilience is set to take center stage at ICAD 2025.
Influential Kenyan Pan-Africanist, legal expert, and public intellectual, Professor Patrick Loch Otieno (PLO) Lumumba, landed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at exactly 12:01 PM WAT ahead of his keynote address at the International Conference on Africa’s Democracy (ICAD) 2025.
Themed “Afro-Democracy: Building Governance Systems that Work in Africa for Africans,” the highly anticipated summit will run from July 22 to 23 at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, bringing together over 1,000 thought leaders, including presidents, legislators, civil society actors, and youth activists from across the continent.
Prof. Lumumba’s arrival has generated palpable excitement, as attendees look forward to his characteristic bold and passionate discourse on African self-determination, governance reform, and continental unity. Known for his thought-provoking commentary and unwavering stance on Pan-African ideals, Lumumba is expected to inspire a reimagination of democracy rooted in African realities.
Recalling his iconic 2022 speech in Abuja where he asserted, “The day Nigeria gets it right, Africa will get it right,” many anticipate a keynote that will once again spotlight Nigeria’s central role in the continent’s democratic evolution.
His presence at ICAD 2025, alongside notable figures like Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, reinforces the summit’s commitment to actionable and transformative dialogue. His recent critique in Arusha, Tanzania, about Africa’s dependence on imports despite its rich resources hints at a message calling for grassroots development and stronger regional collaboration.
Organized by CYPA Africa, ICAD 2025 will tackle pressing issues such as digital-era democracy, judicial integrity, and the implementation of indigenous governance models. Conference convener, Ambassador Chris Iyama, described the event as “a renaissance of African governance,” a sentiment resonating widely online.
As the stage is set for this defining summit, Lumumba’s presence signals a bold call for Africa to reclaim its political narrative and shape its future through homegrown democratic solutions.
The Kingdom of Eswatini has announced its decision to repatriate five migrants who were recently deported there by the United States, despite not being citizens of the southern African nation. The move comes a day after U.S. officials defended the deportations, stating that the migrants’ home countries had declined to accept them.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the deportees—originating from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen, and Cuba—had served prison terms in the U.S. for serious criminal offenses. Their removal marked the first execution of a controversial third-country deportation policy since the U.S.
Supreme Court allowed the Trump-era measure to proceed earlier this month. The U.S. government justified the deportations by claiming that the migrants’ countries of origin had refused repatriation. “The flight included individuals whose own countries refused to take them back,” stated DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
However, Eswatini swiftly countered the U.S. narrative. In an official statement on Wednesday, government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli clarified that Eswatini was not the intended final destination for the deportees. Rather, the country had agreed to serve as a transit hub, working with the United States and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to ensure the individuals are returned to their respective home countries.
“The governments of Eswatini and the United States, along with the International Organization for Migration, will facilitate the transit of these inmates to their countries of origin,” Mdluli said.
The IOM, however, has distanced itself from the operation, stating it had no involvement in the migrants’ removal from the U.S. and was not asked to assist in their repatriation. This raises further questions about the coordination—or lack thereof—surrounding this deportation effort.
The case has sparked renewed debate over the ethics and legality of third-country deportations, particularly when they involve countries that may have had little prior connection to the individuals being removed. Critics argue that such measures may amount to diplomatic coercion and violate international norms regarding state sovereignty and refugee protections.
As Eswatini moves to return the deportees to their rightful homelands, the incident highlights growing tensions over immigration enforcement, international cooperation, and the responsibilities of both sending and receiving nations in addressing the global challenges of migration and deportation.
A previous legal representative of Jeffrey Epstein is now pushing the U.S. Department of Justice to make more documents public from its investigation into the disgraced financier’s sex trafficking case. He also suggested the government should offer immunity to Epstein’s former partner so she can provide testimony.
During his appearance on Fox News Sunday, Alan Dershowitz stated that while he supports unsealing the grand jury transcripts requested by Attorney General Pam Bondi, they likely won’t contain the information many of President Donald Trump’s supporters are hoping to uncover—such as the names of individuals who may have been involved with Epstein.
“I think the judge should release it, but they are not in the grand jury transcripts,” Dershowitz said on Fox. “I’ve seen some of these materials. For example, there is an FBI report of interviews with alleged victims in which at least one of the victims names very important people,” he said, adding that those names have been redacted.
There has been increasing demand among Trump’s base for deeper transparency regarding Epstein’s connections, particularly after his death in a Manhattan correctional facility in 2019, which was officially ruled a suicide while he was awaiting trial.
Earlier this year, Bondi committed to making more evidence available to the public, promising that it would include “a lot of names” and records such as flight logs. However, those expectations were tempered earlier this month when a joint memo from the DOJ and FBI downplayed the existence of any client list or blackmail materials, effectively dismissing widely circulated conspiracy theories.
That same memo reaffirmed the conclusion of a prior inquiry that determined Epstein’s cause of death was suicide, not homicide.
Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have come under heavy criticism from Trump-aligned groups in the wake of the memo’s release. In response, Trump instructed the Justice Department to petition the courts for access to sealed grand jury records connected to both Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
On Friday, a legal motion was submitted to a federal court in Manhattan to request the release of those transcripts.
Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 on multiple federal counts for her involvement in Epstein’s abuse of minors, is currently appealing her sentence, which includes two decades in prison, to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Despite the push for more transparency, legal experts have warned that even if the court unseals the transcripts, the material may not include the full extent of the evidence Trump’s supporters are hoping to see.
Dershowitz on Sunday told “Fox News Sunday” that the information that Bondi did not request to be unsealed would be “far more informative and far more relevant.”
He added that the government should also grant Maxwell immunity so that she could testify before Congress about what knowledge she has of Epstein’s alleged crimes. “She knows everything. She is the Rosetta Stone,” he said of Maxwell. “If she were just given use immunity, she could be compelled to testify.”
In today’s Nigeria, chronic illnesses are rising, not just from the foods we eat, but from what we’ve forgotten to eat. As we trade our traditional diets for ultra-processed convenience, we unknowingly step away from the wisdom that kept our ancestors alive and well for centuries. This isn’t just a matter of nutrition; it’s a cultural crisis.
The meals once seen as sacred, healing, and purposeful have been labelled primitive and unworthy. But the truth is clear: what we abandoned in the name of progress may be the very thing that could save us.
Most of the chronic diseases troubling Nigerians today didn’t come from our soil.
They came from our silence. From the things we stopped eating. From the foods we abandoned in our pursuit of status.
We had everything.
Bitterleaf and ogbono. Acha, ofada, tigernuts, baobab, African oil bean, locust beans. We fermented, roasted, sun-dried, and slow-cooked meals that healed the gut and kept the liver sharp.
But somehow, someone convinced us that the very foods that kept our ancestors alive were dirty, local, primitive, and “not balanced.”
And that’s where the problem began.
Walk into most homes in Lagos or Abuja today and ask a child, “What did you eat for breakfast?” The common answers? Bread and tea. Cornflakes and milk. Chocolate-spread sandwich.
Pap, yam and oil, abacha, moi moi, or okpa have now been reduced to “village food.” Yet these were the same meals that built strong teeth, fertile wombs, and clean arteries for generations.
So what really changed?
It wasn’t just colonialism, it was mental colonization. The kind that continues today through food ads, Western medical policy templates, and shelves stacked with boxed and packaged meals.
And now we’re seeing the results: confused diets, weak immunity, hormonal disruption, stunted metabolism, and chronic inflammation from childhood.
We’ve even changed how often we eat. People now eat three to four times a day while moving less than 1,000 steps daily. They wake, sit in traffic, sit at work, get home, sit again, and still believe they must eat something every few hours to “stay strong.”
Our ancestors walked to the stream, tilled the ground, fetched firewood, ground melon with stones, and trekked markets on foot. Their meals were earned. Their digestion was natural. Their energy, clean.
Today, we mistake laziness for luxury. We stop our children from sweating and call it love. We buy them sugar-coated snacks, fast food, and flavoured drinks thinking it’s care. Meanwhile, prediabetes, insulin resistance, and fatty liver are already developing quietly in many under-18s.
Open the average Nigerian fridge today. Soda. Instant noodles. Sausages. Ice cream. Bread. Yoghurts with corn syrup. Chocolates. All ultra-processed. All pro-inflammatory. All slowly damaging the brain, liver, and gut microbiome.
Professor Carlos Monteiro, from the University of São Paulo, coined the term ultra-processed foods in 2009. He warned that these items are not merely unhealthy, they are industrially modified substances designed to be addictive and nutrient-empty.
And he was right.
In 2023, The British Medical Journal published a sweeping review of 45 meta-analyses covering 9 million participants. The results? Clear associations between ultra-processed food consumption and 32 major health problems, including cardiovascular disease, depression, type 2 diabetes, and premature death.
But in Nigeria, these same foods are branded as premium. Imported equals superior. Processed equals civilized. And native equals backward.
Even worse, our policymakers follow the same logic.
Most African dietary guidelines are borrowed from the U.S. Food Pyramid or British medical templates. We wait for WHO, CDC, or USDA to validate the food growing in our backyard. We ignore the science our grandmothers lived by, science rooted in soil, in climate, in memory.
This is not just a public health issue. It is a cultural amnesia.
The late Prof. Catherine Acholonu once said, “Our ancestors did not just eat to fill their stomachs they ate to align with nature.” That’s not superstition. That’s bio-adaptive nutrition. That’s metabolic intelligence passed down across time.
And yet, we now look for imported keto kits, foreign wellness apps, and pharmaceutical supplements to solve problems that our food heritage already knows how to prevent.
Dr. Barry Popkin of the University of North Carolina described this global shift as the Nutrition Transition. He divided it into five stages. Africa, right now, is in Stage 4—marked by excessive sugar, seed oils, refined flour, and sedentary living. What comes next is an epidemic of degenerative diseases.
So let’s be clear: We’re not just eating wrong. We’re thinking wrong.
You don’t eat what’s trending, you eat what your DNA understands. You eat to reduce inflammation. You eat to support your organs, not to stuff your fridge.
And when sickness finally knocks, the options are fewer. That’s why prevention is no longer advice, it’s survival.
Self-care is no longer luxury, it’s a return to memory.
The healthiest food you can ever eat is the food your ancestors survived on. It’s coded in your enzymes. It’s aligned with your gut flora. It’s built into your bones.
Eat with sense. Not with shame. Protect your children from food confusion. Let them grow up knowing that agidi is not lesser than croissant, and that ogi can nourish better than milk from a tin.
We don’t need another diet plan. We need cultural clarity. We don’t need to import everything. We need to remember.
Because what kept us alive for 1,000 years is not backward, …it’s what will save us now.
A tragic crash involving a Bangladesh Air Force jet claimed the lives of at least 19 individuals after the aircraft struck a school compound in Dhaka on Monday, according to emergency response officials.
More than 50 others, both adults and minors, sustained burn injuries and were rushed to hospitals for treatment, a medical professional from a specialized burns center reported.
The collision took place at Milestone School and College, situated in the Uttara district of the capital city, as confirmed by local authorities.
The aircraft involved was an F-7 BGI training jet belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force. It had taken off at 1:06 p.m. local time (0706 GMT) before the crash occurred, according to a statement from the military’s communications office.
Footage captured shortly after the crash showed flames erupting near a grassy area, with thick black smoke rising into the air while bystanders stood at a distance in shock.
Fire personnel were seen dousing the aircraft debris with water. The jet appeared to have slammed into part of a building, smashing through metal barriers and leaving a large breach in the structure.
“A third-grade student was brought in dead, and three others, aged 12, 14 and 40, were admitted to the hospital,” — Bidhan Sarker, head of the burn unit at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital
Additional visuals captured scenes of people weeping and comforting one another amid the chaos.
“When I was picking (up) my kids and went to the gate, I realised something came from behind…I heard an explosion. When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke,” — Masud Tarik, a teacher at the school
In an official statement, the country’s caretaker leader, Muhammad Yunus, vowed a thorough probe to determine what led to the crash, promising full support to those affected.
“The loss suffered by the Air Force…students, parents, teachers and staff, and others in this accident is irreparable,” — Muhammad Yunus.
This devastating event follows just weeks after a deadly crash in India, where an Air India aircraft collided with a college dormitory, causing over 260 deaths and marking one of the deadliest air disasters in recent history.
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