Final words spoken by pilot of doomed Azerbaijan Airlines plane before it crashed and killed dozens on board

 

The haunting final words spoken by the pilot of the doomed Azerbaijan Airlines plane before the plane went down have been revealed.

The plane crashed on Wednesday,  Dec. 25, and evidence was piling up that Russian air defenses hit the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane which crashed killing 38 people. 

The Embraer jet was likely wrongly targeted as a suspected Ukrainian drone by a Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile shot from the Naursky district of Chechnya.

The apparent shrapnel damage to the aircraft - seen on the intact rear section of the doomed aircraft at Aktau in Kazakhstan - is consistent with such a strike. So are the accounts of surviving passengers who spoke of an explosion outside the plane. 

At the time the plane had been seeking to land as scheduled in Grozny in Chechnya, a Russian region headed by close Vladimir Putin warlord, Ramzan Kadyrov, which has been under regular attacks from Ukraine in recent weeks.  It is Kadyrov’s forces who are suspected of firing a Pantsir-S1 at the plane. 

A partial text release of the alleged communications between the pilots and air traffic control indicates a catastrophic event that the crew wrongly assumed to be a collision with a flock of birds. 

Struggling to control the plane with 67 people on board, the pilots help to go to several different airports in three countries, Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. 

At 8:12 a.m., the crew reported “both GPS lost” on the Embraer E190AR, and sought help with “vectoring” to head back to the take-off airport Baku, evidently after the sudden closure of Grozny airport. 

At 8:16, one of the pilots said: “We have control failure, bird strike in the cockpit. Bird strike in the cockpit (inaudible)…” 

Ground control replied: “AXY8243 I understand you, what kind of help do you need?” 

The captain indicated he was seeking to return to his home airport Baku. But at 8:17, the pilot announced he was “heading to Mineralnye Vody” - an airport in southern Russia. 

Ground control tells him to “perform left orbit” - but the flight deck replies: “I can't execute, control is lost.” At 8:19, one of the pilots states: “I can't maintain 150, we have high pressure in the cabin.” 

Ground control reply: “AXY8243 understood you.” 

One minute later, at 8:20, the flight’s scheduled arrival time, the pilot says: “Left 360, my plane is losing control.” 

At 8:21, according to the leaked transcript, the crew decided instead to make for Makhachkala, a Russian airport on the Caspian Sea. 

At 8:22, the crew reported: “Now the hydraulics have failed.” 

Two minutes later, the pilot appears to deny he has declared a “distress” on board and tells ground control: “The board [plane] is in order.” But the air traffic controller then cannot properly hear the crew. 

“You are very hard to hear…. tell me your altitude.” The plane later disappeared from radar for 37 minutes before reappearing as it sought to land in Aktau. 

Russian Telegram channel VChK-OGPU - close to the security services - said air defense teams loyal to Chechen leader Kadyrov in Naursky district likely attacked the plane. 

“The pilot mistook the strong blow to the plane for a collision with a flock of birds.” Said the channel. 

“In reality, the damage indicates that, most likely, a missile fired by air defence systems exploded near the plane. According to the materials we have obtained, that very strike occurred approximately 18 kilometres [11 miles] north, northwest of the airport in Grozny, over the Naursky district at an altitude of 2,400 metres [7,875ft].” 

The channel reported: “According to information from open sources, several military units are located in this area, including those with air defence systems…It is known that after the recent [Ukrainian] UAV attacks, several Pantsirs were also deployed in Chechnya.” 

It was reported today that Kazakhstan has refused Russia permission to join the investigation examining the crash. Azerbaijan was also refused. 

“This way we will have all the facts, the black box and the evidence,” said a member of the Kazakhstan investigation commission. Independent investigative journalists from the Volya Telegram channel said the drone left coincided in Grozny with the plane’s expected arrival. 

“The Pantsirs began shooting down everything that was in the air at that moment. Grozny airport was closed for flights…. 

“But the passenger plane was already landing, which [air traffic control] prohibited at the last moment. The crew, according to the passengers, made two more attempts to land, after the last of which something exploded near the plane. 

“The damaged Embraer was prohibited from landing in Grozny and tried to reach the airport in Aktau, Kazakhstan, but crashed nearby. The crew did everything possible not to crash the plane, but to land it.” 

The outlet made clear that “Traces of shrapnel damage are visible on the fuselage and vertical stabiliser (keel)” of the jet. The closure of airports due to drone or missile threats is called a “carpet plan” in Russia. 

“Everyone switched on the mode which can be described as ‘Work according to the instructions’. The instructions don’t say to turn on your brain’.” 

The outlet said: “Russian propagandists are trying to spread the version that the plane collided with a Ukrainian drone.” 

But this is implausible. 

“A collision with an attack UAV would not have left shrapnel holes in a civilian airliner, but would have led to the destruction and fall of the aircraft immediately after the impact. Drones do not explode near the target, they explode upon impact with the target.” 

A special aircraft of the Russian Emergencies Ministry has flown nine Russians, including one child, injured in yesterday's plane crash to Moscow for treatment. 

By this morning, war fanatic Kadyrov had not spoken about the horrific plane crash from which there were 29 survivors. 

His nephew Khamzat Kadyrov, secretary of the Chechen Security Council, wrote on his Instagram that “everything was shot down” and published a video in which a drone is seen exploding.

Update: Delta police parade Efe Money, herbalist and two others over gruesome m8rder of his friend

 

The Delta Police Command has paraded a 30-year-old man, Efe Onoitiyi, a.k.a Efe Money, who kidnapped and k!lled his friend, Paulinus Okon, the owner of Easy Boutique in Otokutu, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state. 

 

It was reported that the Divisional Police Officer in Ekpan Division, Uvwie Local Government Area, Aliyu Shaba led a team of policemen to arrest Efe and a herbalist, Lawrence Joseph, said to be the chief priest of Otokutu, over the gruesome m8rder of Paulinus. 

 

The police team also recorded the head of the victim from the shrine of the chief priest where it was buried. 

 

It was further gathered that Efe lured his friend to a shrine where they beheaded him before dumping his remains in the river.

 

Reports had it that when the suspects learnt that the deceased’s body was seen floating in the river three days later, they went and retrieved it. 

 

They removed all his intestines, tied some hard blocks to the body and threw it back into the river where it sank. 

 

They also drove the deceased car to Otu-Jeremi road and abandoned it there to make it appear like a kidnap case.

 

Efe informed Paulinus's family that he was kidnapped and he collected a ransom of N20,215,000 from the deceased's brother, claiming that he was in touch with the kidnappers. 

 

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, paraded the suspect alongside three other accomplices, including a herbalist the chief priest of Otokutu, during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Asaba on Monday, December 23, 2024. 

 

According to the CP, Efe confessed to k!lling Paulinus over his failure to buy a property for the victim after receiving the sum of N30m from him. 

 

Efe said he saw a building for sale at a cost of thirty million naira (N30,000,000) which he advertised to Paulinus and the deceased paid him N30m in three instalments to buy the property.

 

However, instead of buying the house, he diverted the money for his personal use, bought two lands and was building a duplex for himself. 

 

He further stated that he did not know how to explain to the deceased that he had used his money hence he decided that k!lling him will save him the trouble. 

 

“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I welcome you to this press briefing which is particularly painful. It involves the murder of one Paulinus Okon ‘m’ by his bosom friend, one Efe Onoetiyi,” the CP stated.

 

"Paulinus was reported missing on 8/9/2024 by his brother after he went out with his friend Efe Onoitiyi ‘m’ age 30yrs. 

 

"The suspect Efe Onoitiyi who initially denied knowing what happened to Paulinus came to Paulinus's house to ask his family of Paulinus, he was confronted that the deceased went out with him on that same date which he denied that the deceased did not go out with him. 

 

"On a later date, Efe came back and demanded Five Hundred Thousand Naira (#500,000) from the deceased's brother that he would use the money to pay a herbalist who can tell them Paulinus's whereabouts.

 

"Efe again came and informed the family that Paulinus was kidnapped and he collected a ransom of about twenty million, seven hundred and fifteen thousand naira (#20,715,000) from the deceased brother claiming that he was in touch with the kidnappers. 

 

"When it became obvious that Efe had something to hide, he was arrested and the case was transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department State Headquarters Asaba. 

 

"On 28th November 2024, I directed the DPO Ekpan to take over the case and ensure that a discrete investigation is carried out to fish out those responsible as the main suspect Efe was not yielding. 

 

"The DPO Ekpan carried out an intelligence led investigation that indicted one Okeimute Gaga ‘m’ aged 48yrs old. Okeimute gaga upon his arrest opened up and confessed that he can no longer hide what happened. 

 

"Okeimute Gaga narrated how Efe brought Paulinus to Orere River in Otokutu and requested that they kill him. 

 

"The suspect further stated that on the 8th of September 2024 himself, Efe and Sunday Ikpeba, and a 30yrs old herbalist known as Lawrence Joseph tied Paulinus Okon to a stake at night close to Orere River and beheaded him alive. 

 

"His body was thrown into the River while the herbalist took the head of Paulinus and buried him at his shrine in Otokutu. 

 

"The DPO Ekpan Police station led police operatives to the shrine in Otokutu where the skull of Paulinus was exhumed and recovered.

 

"During interrogation, Efe was asked why he killed his friend Paulinus, Efe stated that he saw a building for sale at a cost of thirty million naira (#30,000,000) which he advertised to the deceased and the deceased paid him Thirty Million Naira (#30,000,000) in three instalments, but instead of buying the house, he diverted the money for his personal use, bought two lands and was building a duplex for himself. 

 

“He further stated that he did not know how to explain to the deceased that he had used his money hence he decided that killing me will save him the trouble. Efe and the three other suspects are in custody.” 

 

 

Oil theft: Troops dismantle 37 illegal refining sites, confiscate over 130,000 stolen products in Niger Delta

Troops of the Nigerian Army have dismantled 37 illegal refining sites, arrested ten suspected oil thieves and recovered over 130,000 litres of stolen products in the Niger Delta region.

 

Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, December 22, 2024. 

 

“Troops of 6 Division, working closely with other security agencies have continued to sustain the operational gains recorded against oil thieves in the Niger Delta Region (NDR),” the statement read. 

 

In separate operations conducted from 16 - 22 December 2024, across the region, several gains were recorded. These include the dismantling of 37 illegal refining sites, six boats, arrest of ten suspected oil thieves, recovery of over 130,000 litres of stolen products amongst others.

 

In Rivers State, around Obiafu, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) LGA, a cluster of 9 illegal refining sites with 176 cooking drums and several pumping machines were destroyed. 

 

Additionally, two mobile phones, several locally constructed dumps, stocked with over 60,000 litres of stolen products were confiscated. These include about 50,000 litres of stolen crude, 5,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 6,250 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) and the arrest of four suspected oil thieves.

 

In Buguma general area in Asari-Toru LGA, three illegal refining sites, a large boat was also deactivated with over 24,000 litres of stolen products recovered. Meanwhile, around Bille and Bakana general areas in Degema LGA, three illegal refining sites, two wooden and one fibre boats, were intercepted with over 6,000 and 5,000 litres of stolen crude respectfully, as well as 5,000 litres of illegally refined DPK recovered. At Ozorchi Forest in Abua/Odual, four illegal refining sites with over 10,000 litres of stolen products were handled. While, clearance operations conducted along Imo River, led to the deactivation of 8 illegal refining sites, 50 drum pots, 65 metal container receivers as well as over 5,000 litres of stolen products recovered.

 

In separate operations conducted in Bayelsa State, around Kunsho Creek in Southern Ijaw, one illegal refining site with 2,000 litres of stolen crude were handled appropriately. At Kumbo 4 Flow line in Ekeremor LGA, troops thwarted an attempt to compromise Shell Petroleum Development Company pipeline. The vandals fled and abandoned 18 inches pipes and three gas cylinders at the site.

 

Meanwhile, in Delta State, troops intercepted a tanker truck positioned to siphon crude oil from Platform Petroleum Limited Pipeline at Obiukwole Community in Ethiope East LGA. A blue hose laid into the bush linking the pipeline to the tanker truck in preparation to steal was discovered by troops. 

 

In addition, four suspected oil thieves were arrested at the scene. In Akwa Ibom, troops have continued to dominate both the hinterland and waterways to ward off criminal activities in the state.

 

The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam while commending troops for the feat achieved, charged them to sustain the tempo against oil thieves. He also reassured that criminals will not be allowed freedom of action to have any foothold in the region.

 

 

Yorubas express outrage over inauguration of Sharia Court in Oyo

 

Yoruba youths are expressing their displeasure over the inauguration of a Sharia Court in Oyo State. 

A circular announcing the inauguration went viral on X and the youths made it clear that they don't want Sharia Court, which is quite common in Northern Nigeria, to be inaugurated in the South West region of Nigeria.

Muslim supporters disagreed with them and told them their fears are unfounded because sharia law does not apply to non-Muslims. 

However, the youths were not convinced.

See tweets below.

 

"Spare me landed property in Maitama for bail" Yahaya Bello begs court

 

Former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello, has appealed to Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, to spare him the possession of a landed property in the Maitama district as one of the conditions for bail. 

Bello made the plea on Thursday, December 19, 2024, through his counsel, J.B. Daudu SAN. 

He argued that obtaining Certificates of Occupancy and other title documents for properties in Maitama is challenging due to the peculiarities of the area. 

"My Lord, most people who may be willing to stand as sureties are reluctant to part with their original title documents. Moreover, many buildings in Maitama are corporate establishments like Transcorp Hilton, NCC among others. Therefore, we are pleading with this honourable court to consider other highbrow areas such as Asokoro, Wuse 2, Guzape, and others when granting bail to our client," he said. 

Earlier, Daudu informed the court that the matter was slated for the hearing of Bello's bail application.  Explaining, he told the court, "We filed our application yesterday, December 18, 2024, and the prosecution served a counter-affidavit the same day.  "We intend to focus on the trial, and for that, we need unrestricted access to the defendant to ensure he is fully prepared. The charges against him are bailable. Moreover, there are critical documents that only he can access. My Lord, the second and third defendants have already been granted bail, and if not for procedural delays, my client would have been granted bail as well," he said.  

In response, counsel for the prosecution, Olukayode Eniton SAN, did not oppose the bail application. 

"I confirm that the learned senior counsel, Daudu, has been in communication with the prosecution team. Based on the assurance that the defendant will stand trial, barring unforeseen circumstances, we are willing to defer to your lordship's discretion regarding the terms and conditions of bail," he said. 

In her ruling, Justice Anenih granted Bello bail in the sum of N500 million with three sureties in like sum. The sureties must be notable Nigerians with landed property in Maitama, Jabi, Utako, Apo, Guzape, Garki, or Asokoro. 

The judge also ordered Bello to deposit his passport and other travel documents with the court registrar. She further directed that he remain in  the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre, Kuje, until his bail conditions are met. 

Two other defendants standing trial alongside Bello, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu had their bail conditions varied.  The judge reduced their bail sum from N300m to N200m and further ordered that they could get landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court that had the same values as the bail sum. 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting Bello alongside  Oricha and Hudu on a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of  N110.4 billion. 

Justice Anenih adjourned hearing on the substantive suit till January 29, 2024.

Nigerian man found d3ad in a river three weeks after going missing in UK

 

The family of a 27-year-old dad-of-two, Nathaniel Favour Enemona, who was found dead in the River Roch in Greater Manchester almost three weeks after going missing, have paid tribute to him. 

He was reported missing from the Roch Valley area at around 9am on Sunday, November 24.

Members of the community in Heywood pulled together in efforts to help find Nathaniel, while police searched the River Roch on a number of occasions. 

Tragically, his body was pulled from the water on Saturday, December 14, before he was identified on Sunday.

In a statement issued through Greater Manchester Police, Nathaniel's family said: “Nathaniel was a loving man and daddy, he was the most loving and caring husband and dad who always put his family first.

"A good friend to all and a keen singer song writer. Favour will be eternally missed and will never leave our hearts.

"We ask for time and peace to process the tragic loss we feel as a family. We want to take this opportunity to thank the people of Heywood for the outpouring of love and support they have shown.

Police said at the weekend that Nathaniel's death was not being treated as suspicious. 

An inquest is expected to take place at a later date.

Speaking previously to the Manchester Evening News, Nathaniel's wife Eunice said he had left his phone at home when he told her he was going to the shops on November 24. 

He left their home in Heywood at around 8.30am, before a dog walker said they saw him in a 'sleepy state' a short time later, sitting on a wall beside the river - which was fast-flowing following Storm Bert. 

When she returned, Nathaniel had vanished, but his slider-style footwear had been left behind. 

The walker recognised Nathaniel, who regularly visited the beauty spot near the Heywood Waterfall, and immediately rang the police.

 

 

42-year-old man d!es after collapsing at work in Lagos

A 42-year-old man, Kareem Hammed has d!ed after collapsing while on duty at his workplace in Lagos State.

 

Hammed, who worked for Fortune Security Company in Onipanu, Lagos State, was rushed to the General Hospital in Odeda in Ogun State for urgent medical care where he was later confirmed d3ad.

The spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said that the incident occurred on December 18, 2024, around 5:30 PM. 

 

The PPRO explained that the incident was reported by one Adejumobi Adetunji, a co-worker of the deceased, at the Odeda division of the command.

 

She said that the Divisional Police Officer in Odeda received information about his death at approximately 6:20 AM on Thursday. 

 

“A 52-year-old man named Adejumobi Adetunji, who works for Fortune Security Company in Onipanu, Lagos State, reported at the station that a 42-year-old man named Kareem Hammed, who lived in Alagbado, Lagos State, collapsed while on duty," she stated. 

 

"They both worked for the same security company. This incident happened on December 18, 2024, around 5:30 PM, after Kareem had been treated for malaria fever and discharged from the hospital just a week prior. 

 

“He was rushed to the General Hospital in Odeda for urgent care, but unfortunately, the doctor on duty confirmed his death in the early hours of the following day.”

 

Odutola noted that the body has been deposited at the Odeda General Hospital morgue for an autopsy, and the Odeda Division Police Officer has begun a preliminary investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding the death.  

Defamation case: If dem no release Dele on bail Tomorrow, we are going to go Ballistic with the information we have on Afe Babalola- Charley Boy warns

Veteran entertainer, Charles Oputa aka Charly Boy has warned that if activist, Dele Farotimi, is not granted bail by tomorrow, December 20, informations about Are Afe Babalola will be released.

It was reported that Farotimi was arraigned on December 4 for allegedly publishing a book “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System' where he alleged that Babalola corrupted the Judiciary and procured judgements in the Supreme Court. 

Farotimi pleaded not guilty to all the sixteen count charges and was then remanded in prison custody and has been in prison since then.

Apparently upset by the Farotimi's continuous detention, Charly Boy, wrote

‘’WARNING:

If dem no release Dele on bail Tomorrow, we are going to go Ballistic with the information we have on Are Babalola.

We won't be playing dis time. Enough of dis Nonsense.

Dia Father's.''

South African man brutally k!lls his girlfriend, posts photo of her lifeless body on Facebook and video justifying the m8rder

A South African man, Sbusiso Lawrence has sparked outrage after k!lling his ex-girlfriend, Nontobeko Cele and sharing a photo of her lifeless body riddled with stab wounds on Facebook.

He filmed himself with his face covered in blood, confessing to the m8rder. 

The disturbing material went viral late on Tuesday night, 17 December 2024.

The incident reportedly happened in Durban on the same day. 

The photo shows her lying on her back and facing up, with what appears to be stab wounds on her neck. Her clothing is soaked in blood.

In his confession, the killer seemingly justifies his actions, saying the woman had toyed with him and got pregnant for another man while they were still involved. 

He claims he accepted her child as if it were his own, taking care of them. But, in a twist, the woman ended their relationship.

Watch the video below