Photograph of the helicopter wreckage that killed Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi over the weekend have emerged.

Raisi, alongside the country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian lost their lives in a helicopter crash that occurred in a mountainous area in the province of East Azerbaijan, amid foggy conditions.

Others on board the helicopter include East Azerbaijan Governor, Malek Rahmati, and Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, representative of Iranian Supreme Leader to East Azerbaijan.

There were three helicopters in this convoy, two of which were carrying the ministers and officials.

The cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained as rescue officials are in the area.

Iranian state TV, Mehr and Tasnim news agencies have confirmed the death of Raisi.

Raisi, 63, who became president in 2021, was returning from a trip to neighbouring Azerbaijan to inaugurate a dam.

An Upper Shari’a Court sitting in Rijiyar Zaki Kano, on Monday, ordered the remand of a 38-year-old man, Shafi’u Abubakar, in a correctional centre for allegedly setting a mosque on fire, killing 14 people.

The defendant, who lives at Gadan Village in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano, is charged with mischief by fire, causing grievous hurt and culpable homicide.

The Prosecution Counsel, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Kano State, Mr Haruna Isa-Dederi, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 15, 2024, at Gadan village, Gezawa Local Government.

He alleged that on the same date, at about 5:15 a.m., the defendant used petrol and set a mosque at Gadan Village on fire during subhi (Dawn) prayer.

“The defendant poured the petrol on the carpet where Sani Suleiman and 24 others were praying, and closed the door.

“In the process, several people sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano for treatment, while Suleiman and 13 others died while receiving treatment,” Dederi said.

The AG said the case is a capital offense and urged the court to allow the defendant get a lawyer to give him his constitutional right.

The defendant, however, pleaded guilty to all three counts.

According to him, the offence contravenes the provision of section 336, 247 and 221 of Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law.

The presiding judge, Malam Halhalatu Zakariyya, ordered the court registry to write a letter to the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria to provide a lawyer for the defendant.

He ordered the remand of the defendant and adjourned the matter until May 31, for hearing.

The Secretary-General of Okija Progressive Union, Barrister Peter Awa, and Izuchukwu Igwenagha, popularly known as Onwa, were on Sunday murdered by gunme in Anambra.

While Awa, who is also the Chancellor of the Knights of St Mulumba, Okija Sub Council, was killed in a market square in Umudioka village, Igwenagha was murdered over alleged land dispute in his Isieke village.

Also on the same day, a business man at Nkwo Okija was kidnapped as he was driving home from a function.

Before the latest incident, Okija was the only community in Ihiala Local Government Area that enjoyed security and neighbouring communities were coming to conduct burials and weddings in the town because the leadership had put in place a security outfit that worked.

Awa was appointed secretary of Okija last year following a town union election conducted by the Anambra State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters.

Until the incident, he was practicing law in Ihiala. Only recently, there was a failed attempt to kidnap his wife, also a lawyer, at Ihiala.

It was gathered that he attended a village meeting few hours before his gruesome murder.

Some people, who it was believed he was familiar with, had stopped him at Eke market in his Umudioka village and eyewitnesses said there appeared to be a discussion between them, only for gunshots to be heard few minutes later.

The occupants of the car immediately drove off after firing several bullets at him. He was confirmed dead later.

For Onwa, his murder was said to be connected to a protracted land dispute in his village. Onwa was said to be a key player in Umuezeulasi land matters and he was shot dead in his house.

Barrister Mike Ozulumba, a United States-based attorney said the community is passing through tough times.

“Okija has within 24hrs recorded two painful gruesome murders. While mourning the assassination of Onwa in a suspected land dispute, we received the shocking news of OPU Secretary, Barr Awah’s assassination at his village in Umuohi Okija tonight.

“While reeling from this painful news, a kidnap gang struck at pipeline tonight and the details are still sketchy. We are in real tough times,” he said.

The Anambra State Police Command is yet to confirm the incidents.

President Bola Tinubu has reacted to the death of his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday.

A helicopter carrying President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was involved in a hard landing while visiting a northern region.

The duo were confirmed dead by local media platforms.

Reacting, Tinubu in a statement issued on Monday by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, extended his condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

President Tinubu expressed profound grief over the disturbing tragedy and described President Raisi as a leader who was passionately committed to the development of Iran.

While commiserating with the bereaved families, President Tinubu prayed for the continuous peace, stability, and prosperity of the Iranian nation.

Lai Ching-te of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was sworn in and took office as the president of the island’s self-governing party on Monday.

According to Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry, more than 500 foreign guests from 51 delegations attended the inauguration ceremony and related activities, including the national leaders of eight countries which maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Mr Lai, 64, the son of a coal miner and a trained physician, took over from Tsai Ing-wen, 67, to lead the democracy amid increasing threats from China, which claims the self-governing island of over 23 million people as its territory.

Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949.

Ms Tsai could not run again after completing the maximum of two terms.

Her eight years in office aimed to maintain the status quo between Taiwan and China and augment Taiwan’s international visibility amid a complex geopolitical situation.

Vice-President Hsiao Bi-khim, 52, was also officially sworn in.

She was Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the United States from 2020 to 2023 and formerly served as a DPP lawmaker for several terms.

The Chinese Communist Party considers the DPP to be a separatist organisation and has threatened to invade Taiwan if the party makes any formal moves towards independence.

The DPP says Taiwan already functions as an independent state and does not need to make any formal declaration.

Given China’s threats, Ms Tsai’s administration adopted strategies to strengthen Taiwan’s defensive military capabilities and cooperate with like-minded countries to form a collective deterrence in the region.

Since his January victory, Mr Lai reiterated that his administration will continue to strengthen the foundations laid by Ms Tsai to safeguard the status quo, let Taiwan continue playing an indispensable role in the global economy, and maintain geopolitical stability.

The United States maintains a certain amount of strategic ambiguity regarding Taiwan, officially recognising only the Beijing government, but it is legally bound to support Taiwan’s defence capabilities through the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

European Council President Charles Michel expressed condolences on behalf of the European Union after the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter accident.

“The EU expresses its sincere condolences for the death of President Raisi and Foreign Minister Abdollahian, as well as other members of their delegation and crew in a helicopter accident,” Mr Michel said on X.

“Our thoughts go to the families,” the EU leader added.

Mr Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were among nine people who died when their helicopter crashed in Iran’s mountainous north-west during bad weather on Sunday, state media reported.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested nine suspected oil thieves at an illegal refinery in a forest boundary between Rivers and Abia.

This is according to a statement by NSCDC spokesman Babawale Afolabi on Monday in Abuja.

Mr Afolabi said that, based on the Corps’ dedication to wage war against illegal bunkering, the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CGsSIS) conducted intelligence surveillance at the site, which aided in the successful arrest.

“We apprehended nine suspects caught in the act of illegally refining stolen crude extracted from a vandalized oil wellhead. We also discovered an ongoing construction of a local refinery with the capacity to produce 60,000 litres of crude at once.

“Visibly at the massive illegal bunkering, we noticed large hoses and galvanized metal pipes laid to transfer stolen crude across the processing channels,” he said.

According to him, the suspects arrested are Oghene Wede, 32; Moses James, 25; Chidi Nwosu, 53; Samuel John, 24; Emmanuel Paul, 20; Oghenevo Nwebi, 43; Martina Whinnypeter, 38; Nwabuchi Nwogu, 41, and David Okere, 20.

According to the NSCDC, the suspects have been interrogated, and further investigation has commenced. It added that the suspects will be prosecuted.

He said the massive site contained over 15 modular ovens, four fabricated reservoirs, and 30 pits dug out to store processed AGO.

“Exhibits recovered are RWD 5.0 GFE-6500 power generating set, two yellow colour pumping machines, metal and plastic buckets, cutlasses, saw, mats, welding Machine, galvanized metal pipes, different heavy-duty hoses, automotive gas oil illegally processed in cooking ovens,” Mr Afolabi said.

Erstwhile Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has blamed the United States for the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage.

Mr Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian died on Sunday after the helicopter suffered a hard landing due to bad weather in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province while returning from Khoda Afarin country to Tabriz.

Mr Zarif, who offered his condolences over the death of Mr Raisi and other officials of the government, alleged that the death occurred because of the U.S. sanctions on Iran’s aviation industry.

He stated, “One of the causes of this heartbreaking incident is the United States, which, by sanctioning the sale of the aviation industry to Iran, caused the martyrdom of the president and his companions, and the U.S. crime will be recorded in the minds of the Iranian people and history.”

The former foreign minister added, “With national solidarity and unity, the people showed that they are vigilant and will stand by each other in difficult situations for a better tomorrow.”

He said Iran had faced events in the past 45 years, and according to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, even they tend to overcome the tragic events.

Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, is expected to assume the presidency after Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash as the country gears up for early elections.

The Iranian constitution stipulates that the first vice president take over “in the event of the president’s death, dismissal, resignation, absence or illness for more than two months”.

Raisi, who died on Sunday along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials, was nearing the end of his first four-year term as president.

Mokhber’s interim appointment requires the approval of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final word in all state affairs.

Presidential elections to pick a permanent successor are to be held within 50 days, according to the constitution.

A council made up of the parliament speaker, head of the judiciary and the vice president are to be tasked with organising the national vote.

Mokhber, 68, was appointed vice president as Raisi took office in August 2021.

The vice president was born in Dezful city in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, where he held several official positions.

For years since 2007, Mokhber chaired the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order, a governmental organisation tasked with managing properties confiscated following the 1979 Islamic revolution.

The foundation, established in the 1980s, has over the years grown to become a major state economic conglomerate with shares in various sectors.

Iranians head to the polls for presidential elections every four years since the Islamic Republic’s first vote in 1980.

The constitution sets a two-term limit for Iranian presidents.

The position of prime minister does not exist in Iran, and the president — assisted by several vice presidents — is responsible for appointing and directing the cabinet.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced on Monday five days of mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash.

“I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran,” said Khamenei in an official statement a day after the death of Raisi and other officials in the crash in East Azerbaijan province.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has visited the victims of a mosque attack in the Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

Obi, who posted the pictures of the victims lying in the hospital beds with various degrees of injuries, made this known on his verified X handle on Monday.

He wrote, “Yesterday, Sunday the 19th, as a follow-up to my earlier condolence message regarding those who lost their lives in the horrific and devastating terror attack on May 16, 2024, in the Gezawa local government area of Kano State during the morning prayer session.

“I visited Murtala Mohammed Hospital in Kano to sympathize with those injured and receiving treatment at the hospital. The visit was to physically show solidarity with the wounded, offer support, and wish them a speedy recovery, as well as to thank and encourage the management of the hospital.

“And most importantly, it was to send a message to the victims that we stand together in condemnation of any senseless act of violence and killing in our country.

“Once again, I sincerely send my condolences to the Government of Kano State, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, and the people of Kano over this very sad incident. I extend my thoughts and prayers, especially to the families of the victims,” he wrote.

The former Anambra State governor further urged for peace, tolerance, and understanding in the country while praying that Allah would forgive the sins of the deceased.

The PUNCH reports that the Kano State Police Command on Friday confirmed the death of 15 persons in the mosque attack in Gadan village in Gezawa Local Government Area of the state.

A man on Wednesday allegedly sprayed the mosque with petrol, locked its doors, and set it on fire, trapping worshippers.

The state Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, told the News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone interview that so far, 15 out of the 24 victims of the incident died.

Initial reports said one worshipper had died from the attack but the death toll later rose after more victims died while receiving treatment at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano.

A former Minister of Labour and Productivity under the Interim National Government of Chief Enerst Sonekan, Prince Ajibola Afonja, is dead.

Our correspondent learnt that the former Chairman of First Bank and native of Oyo town, Oyo State, died on Sunday night at the University College Hospital, UCH, in Ibadan, at 82.

He was said to have sustained injuries from a lone accident he was involved in at Ilora, a few kilometres from his country home.

He was thereafter rushed to UCH in Ibadan where he eventually died.

The deceased was at a time the senatorial candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in Oyo Central Senatorial District.

Chairman of Oyo Global Forum, OGF, Taiwo Adebayo confirmed the death of the deceased on Monday.

He described the deceased as a community leader and industrialist par excellence.

“On this dark day in Oyo, we mourn the loss of Prince Ajibola Afonja, former Labour Minister and Chairman of First Bank Nigeria, who passed away on Sunday night, aged 82. Although a national figure with tremendous influence, he was particularly light for the Oyo community where he made pioneering efforts as an industrialist. His legacy of generosity and open-heartedness touched countless lives, and his presence will be profoundly missed.

Until his last month, Daddy IDS, as he was affectionately known, as a reference to his manufacturing company, remained hardworking, dedicated to realizing one of the most transformative business visions for the country’s economy. It was the E-Customs project.

“His absence leaves a void that will be difficult to fill, but his spirit of generosity and leadership will continue to inspire us. For all of us that he inspired, we shall honor his memory by carrying forward the values he embodied and continuing his legacy of service and compassion, the values that guide OGF, which he supported during his lifetime.

“We extend our deepest condolences to his family, the entire Oyo community, and friends and associates throughout the world during this time of mourning,” Adebayo said.

The people of Taraba State were thrown into mourning on Sunday following a fatal motor accident that claimed the lives of six members of the state chapter of the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, WOWICAN.

The accident, DAILY POST learnt, occurred on Sunday while they were on their way to Jalingo, the state capital, from Gembu, the administrative headquarters of Sardauna Local Government Council.

The victims were travelling in an 18-seat bus after attending a conference that ended on Saturday in Gembu.

Mourners who spoke with DAILY POST described the incident as a black Sunday, not only to the Christian community but to the people of the state at large.

Describing the news as heartbreaking and devastating, Governor Agbu Kefas, who swiftly condoled with the families of the victims, noted that it was a black Sunday for the state.

The governor further stated that the circumstances of their deaths are regrettably tragic, as they were returning from the women’s CAN Conference, which ended in Gembu on Saturday.

While praying for the repose of their souls, the governor pledged his administration’s continuous commitment to safer roads, especially within areas that posed great threats to life. He said he has already directed that local government chairmen maintain existing roads with proper traffic controls, signage, and basic repairs.

His administration, he promised, would work hard to minimise the sad occurrences of road mishaps occasioned by bad roads in the state.

The Police Command in Lagos State has confirmed the sudden death of a man, who came to watch television at a beer parlour in the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

Hundeyin said that the owner of the beer parlour, whose name was not mentioned, reported the case to Elere Police Division on Wednesday at about 7.00 pm.

He said that the report revealed that a customer (now deceased), whose name and address were yet unknown, in his 50s, came to the beer parlour located along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway at about 6.15 pm.

The image maker said the bar owner said the customer walked into the open bar to sit and watch television like any other customers, while some were drinking.

“He was later observed to be sleeping on the chair and there was an attempt to wake him up, but they discovered that he was lifeless.

“The scene was visited by detectives of the division and the body was seen lifeless on the chair without any mark of violence.

“The body has been removed to Mainland General Hospital Mortuary Yaba, Lagos for autopsy. Efforts to trace his family is in progress,” he said.

Nigeria’s table tennis star, Fatima Bello, has qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics holding in France.

Ms Bello joined the duo of Edem Offiong and Olajide Omotayo, who both qualified for the Games on Friday at the African Olympic qualifying event in Kigali.

Ms Bello, who secured a maiden ticket to the Games, fought hard to defeat Algeria’s Lynda Loughrabi 4-2 in the women’s final of the tournament on Saturday.

Tyson Fury suffered a split-decision points defeat on a dramatic night in Saudi Arabia as Oleksandr Usyk became boxing’s first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion.

On a grand stage and on a legacy-defining night, Briton Fury began well but was given a standing 10 count and saved by the bell after an Usyk onslaught in the ninth round.

In a tense wait for the scorecards to be read out, Fury appeared convinced of victory before a stony-faced Usyk broke down in tears when he was confirmed as the winner.

The scorecards read 115-112 and 114-113 for the Ukrainian, with a third judge scoring it 114-113 to Fury.

It meant Fury, 35, lost for the first time in a 16-year professional career. He will get an immediate opportunity for revenge with a rematch planned for later this year.

“I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority,” a defiant Fury said in the ring.

“His country is at war, so people are siding with the country at war. Make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion.”

He added: “It was one of the daftest decisions in boxing. I’ll be back.”

Usyk takes the WBC belt from Fury, to add to his WBA, WBO and IBF collection.

The 37-year-old remains unbeaten and is the first boxer in almost 25 years to stand tall as the sport’s sole heavyweight world champion.

“Thank you so much to my team. It’s a big opportunity for my family, for me, for my country. It’s a great time, it’s a great day,” Usyk said.

“I am ready for a rematch.”

Two men have been arrested following the discovery of cannabis with a street value of £2.1m in County Tyrone.

Officers searched properties in the Cookstown and Coalisland areas on Saturday morning where they seized a significant quantity of the drug along with two vehicles and a number of other items.

The two men, who are 37 and 48, have been arrested on suspicion of involved in the supply of drugs.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said: “This operation has dealt a significant blow to the supply and distribution of drugs in our communities.

“No drugs are safe and we remain committed to tackling the scourge of illegal substances.

” We continue to target activity that harms our communities by removing dangerous drugs from our streets and disrupting criminal activity.”

Meanwhile, an estimated €1m (£857,000) worth of suspected cannabis was seized by gardaí (Irish police) in County Meath.

It was recovered at a warehouse in Ashbourne on Thursday.

Gardaí were assisted by the Irish Revenue Customs Service in the operation.

The suspected cannabis was discovered in vacuum-packed bags and will be analysed by Forensic Science Ireland.

There have been no arrests at this stage; gardaí say investigations are ongoing.

Three abducted Chibok girls who escaped from Boko Haram captivity and enrolled at the American University of Nigeria, AUN, were among 189 students who officially graduated with first degrees on Saturday.

DAILY POST reports that of the hundreds of girls who were abducted from Chibok in 2014, while a great number remain in captivity, many have been lucky to escape and lead better lives.

In his remark during the 15th Commencement (Convocation) ceremony of the university at its main campus in Yola on Saturday, the President (vice chancellor) of the University, Dwayne Frazier, charged the graduates to uphold the tenets of the institution.

He reminded them that the university prepares students to face their new challenges.

“I have no doubt that you will excel because you have all shown resilience, determination, and commitment. These qualities will propagate you for the best even as you contribute to the development of the country,” Frazier told them.

In his message, the guest speaker, Professor Mike Ozekhome, asserted that the institution has proven that it can impact the world positively.

“With the entrepreneurship lectures and training you have received here at AUN, you can create jobs for yourselves,” he charged the students.

Eight students were awarded PhD, 10 students with MSc, and 189 students awarded first degrees.

Ozekhome was honoured with a Doctor of Letters degree for promoting peace, human rights, the rule of law, and good governance in Nigeria.

The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old stepmother, Rachel Geoffrey, for allegedly inflicting severe burns on her 7-year-old and 3-year-old stepchildren.

This was made known in a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje on X.com on Saturday.

According to the police statement, the stepmother intentionally set fire to the children’s hands as punishment for eating food she had saved for their father.

“On 15/5/2024 the Command arrested a 23-year-old Rachel Geoffrey a resident of Federal Housing estate, Girei local government area who on 14/5/2024 intentionally inflicted severe physical injuries on her 7 and 3 years stepchildren.

“The Victims Genesis Geoffrey 7 years and Ijadai Geoffrey 3 years faced several calculated acts of cruelty and Human rights violations from their stepmother after the separation of their mother from their father.

“Most worrisome is the recent incident in which she cooked Rice and kept it for her Husband who happened to be the father of the victims and then went out, the hungry kids took and ate their father’s food.

“That angered her, she then tied their hands with a handkerchief making them powerless and set fire to their hands resulting in the severe injuries they sustained.”

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has deployed intelligence officers to Banex – an electronics and telecommunications gadgets market, in Abuja following a conflict that ensued between soldiers and some traders on Saturday.

A viral video seen on X on Saturday showed a multitude of civilians overpowering some soldiers during a free-for-all fight at Banex.

The Defence Headquarters, and the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu could not be reached for comments as of press time.

Meanwhile, a trader who simply identified himself as Abdul, told our correspondent on Saturday that the conflict ensued over the sale of a mobile phone.

“There’s a problem at Banex now. Some soldiers came to complain about a phone, and during an argument with the traders, a fight ensued,” Abdul simply revealed.

When contacted over the development, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh said the Commissioner of Police, Benett Igweh has deployed officers of the FCT Intelligence Response Team to the scene of the incident.

“The CP has deployed the Intelligence Response Team to the scene,” Adeh confirmed.