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Ghana defence, environment ministers killed in helicopter crash — Presidency

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Ghana’s defence and environment ministers were killed in a helicopter crash Wednesday, the Ghanaian presidency said, hours after the armed forces reported a chopper carrying three crew and five passengers dropped off the radar.

Edward Omane Boamah became President John Mahama’s defence minister earlier this year shortly after Mahama’s swearing-in in January.

Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed was serving as the minister of environment, science and technology.

Everyone onboard was killed in the accident, authorities said.

“The president and government extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country,” said Mahama’s chief of staff Julius Debrah.

Boamah was helming Ghana’s defence ministry at a time when jihadist activity across its northern border in Burkina Faso has become increasingly restive.

While Ghana has so far avoided a jihadist spillover from the Sahel — unlike neighbours Togo and Benin — observers have warned of increased arms trafficking and of militants from Burkina Faso crossing the porous border to use Ghana as a rear base.

A medical doctor by training, Boamah’s career in government included stints as communications minister during Mahama’s previous 2012-2017 tenure. Before that, he was the deputy minister for environment.

The Ghanaian Armed Forces had reported earlier Wednesday that an air force helicopter had fallen off radar after taking off from Accra just after 9:00 am. It had been headed towards the town of Obuasi, northwest of the capital.

The statement had said that three crew and five passengers were aboard, without specifying at the time that the ministers were among them.

Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Ghana’s deputy national security coordinator and former agriculture minister, was among the dead, along with Samuel Sarpong, vice chairman of Mahama’s National Democratic Congress party.

As Ghana has pursued increased diplomacy with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger — all ruled by juntas who have broken with the ECOWAS west African regional bloc — Boamah led a delegation to Ouagadougou in May.

He had been set to release a book titled “A Peaceful Man in an African Democracy”, about former president John Atta Mills, who died in 2012.

All flags were to be flown at half-staff, Debrah said, while the presidency said Mahama had cancelled his official activities for the day.

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Second body recovered after car plunged into Lagos Lagoon

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The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has confirmed the recovery of a second victim after a Toyota Camry saloon car somersaulted and plunged into the Lagos Lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge, inward Iyana Iworo.

It was reported that a 27-year-old woman, Aisha Maikudi Ibrahim, d!ed in the tragic incident which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, August 23, 2025.

Her body was recovered by local divers and handed over to her family for burial.

Ms Ibrahim, who lived in Gbagada, was returning from an event in Ikoyi where she worked as a vendor when the crash occurred.

The public affairs unit of LASWA in a statement on Wednesday, August 27, said initial reports suggested that Aisha was the only occupant of the car, however follow-up investigations confirmed the presence of a second passenger, identified as Chado Daniel Danladi.

According to the agency, Danladi, 31, residing at 7 Oremeta Street, Off Opebi Link Bridge, Ikeja, was recognised as Aisha’s colleague.

 

“The body of the second victim was recovered during an extended SAR operation and has been delivered to his family,” the statement read in part

 

Meanwhile, friends and colleagues of the victims have taken to social media to mourn them.

One Uwana Anthony shared photos of Aisha and Chado on Wednesday, August 27.

“Rest on Aisha and Chado” he captioned the post.

 

Second body recovered after car plunged into Lagos Lagoon

 

Second body recovered after car plunged into Lagos Lagoon

 

Second body recovered after car plunged into Lagos Lagoon
Second body recovered after car plunged into Lagos Lagoon

 

Second body recovered after car plunged into Lagos Lagoon

 

Second body recovered after car plunged into Lagos Lagoon

 

Second body recovered after car plunged into Lagos Lagoon
Second body recovered after car plunged into Lagos Lagoon
Second body recovered after car plunged into Lagos Lagoon

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Niger Delta youths block NNPCL towers in Abuja, demand CEO’s resignation

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A large group of Niger Delta youth leaders protested at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Towers in Abuja, starting around 6 am.

The demonstrators blocked the entrance and exit gates on Wednesday, causing significant disruptions to traffic along Herbert Macaulay Way in the Central Business District.

According to Channels TV, the protesters are carrying banners with bold inscriptions, the protesters demanded the resignation of NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, accusing him of corruption and mismanagement.

They also urged the appointment of a Niger Delta indigene as the new GCEO of the company.

They also called for the appointment of an indigene of the Niger Delta region as the GCEO of the NNPCL.

Security agents, including men of the Nigeria Police Force, were at the scene to ensure that traffic was diverted to one lane of the dual carriageway leading to the NNPCL towers.

Workers were forced to park their cars far away from the gates of the Towers due to the protest.

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Abia deputy speaker clarifies fatal convoy crash

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The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Austin Meregini, has provided an official clarification regarding the death of two men in an accident involving his convoy at Obehie, Ukwa West LGA, on Sunday, August 3, 2025, along the Port Harcourt–Aba Expressway.

The explanation follows a viral video that described the Deputy Speaker’s response to the bereaved family as “sad.”

The victims, identified as Ifeanyi Maduako, 45, residing in the Philippines, and Onyedi Obasi, 35, living in Gambia, were both from Ehime Mbano, Imo State. They were reportedly returning to their bases after their mother’s burial.

In a statement issued Wednesday by Grant Okeigbo of the Deputy Speaker’s Media Unit, the office clarified that the Deputy Speaker was not in the pick-up truck at the time of the accident. The vehicle, carrying the driver and two security personnel, collided with a Toyota Spider carrying the two victims.

“The Toyota Spider was reportedly driving against traffic due to the poor condition of the opposite lane. Eyewitnesses and the surviving truck driver indicated that the Spider either suffered a burst tire or brake failure, causing it to veer into the path of the pick-up truck,” the statement said.

The accident tragically claimed the lives of the two men in the Spider, while the truck driver and two policemen sustained serious injuries. The truck driver remains on life support and may require spinal surgery at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.

The statement emphasised that the Deputy Speaker sent emissaries to the bereaved family the day after the accident and has been working with medical professionals to save the lives of his surviving aides. Discussions on how best to support the family are ongoing.

“The Deputy Speaker is pained by the circulation of unverified reports on social media regarding this tragedy. He appeals to the public and media to exercise caution in reporting such sensitive matters,” the release said.

The Deputy Speaker also extended his condolences to the family of the deceased, praying for the repose of their souls.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, were unsuccessful.

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