A small aircraft traveling from Kenya’s coast to the Maasai Mara National Park crashed early Tuesday, with all 12 people on board feared dead, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).

The plane departed from Diani, a popular tourist destination, and was headed to Kichwa Tembo, a private airstrip within the Maasai Mara — one of Kenya’s most visited wildlife reserves. The crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. local time (0230 GMT).

“The aircraft had 12 persons on board,” the KCAA said in a statement. “Government agencies are already on site to establish the cause of the accident.”

Authorities have not yet released details about the aircraft model or the nationalities of the passengers. Rescue and investigation teams have been deployed to the crash site to recover the wreckage and assess the situation.

This latest incident comes just months after a light aircraft operated by medical NGO Amref crashed near Nairobi in August, killing six people and injuring two others raising renewed concerns about air safety in the region.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written to the Nigerian Senate seeking the confirmation of the newly appointed Service Chiefs, following last week’s major shake-up in the nation’s military leadership.

The request, announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary, covers the following appointees:

• General Olufemi Oluyede — Chief of Defence Staff
• Major-General Waheedi Shaibu — Chief of Army Staff
• Rear Admiral Idi Abbas — Chief of Naval Staff
• Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke — Chief of Air Staff
• Major-General Emmanuel Undiendeye — Chief of Defence Intelligence

In his correspondence, President Tinubu urged the Senate to give expeditious consideration to the nominations. The upper chamber has referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for screening and confirmation, scheduled for next week.

The development follows Tinubu’s decision to replace General Christopher Musa with General Olufemi Oluyede (a former Chief of Army Staff) as the Chief of Defence Staff. While Major-General Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence, other service positions were also reshuffled.

According to presidential aide Sunday Dare, the appointments form part of Tinubu’s efforts to “strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture.”

“All appointments take immediate effect,” Dare stated.

However, the move has sparked criticism, with some observers alleging that the shake-up was linked to an attempted coup. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a statement signed by its spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi, demanded clarity from the presidency.

“Our position remains that the Federal Government owes Nigerians a categorical explanation about what truly happened,” Abdullahi said. “Given the instability in Chad and other Sahel nations, we are gravely concerned.”

The reshuffle marks one of the most significant military leadership transitions under Tinubu’s administration since assuming office in May 2023.

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Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has advised Nigerians to sell their U.S. dollars, predicting that the naira will appreciate significantly within the next one to two months.

Dangote attributed his optimism to the operations of his 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery, which he said is cutting fuel import costs and strengthening Nigeria’s foreign reserves. The country’s reserves have reportedly climbed to $35 billion as of late October 2025, with the naira stabilizing around ₦1,459 to the dollar.

He also highlighted the federal government’s commitment to supporting refinery expansion to 1.4 million barrels per day under President Bola Tinubu’s administration a move aimed at boosting energy security, reducing forex pressure, and enhancing long-term economic stability.

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The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has withdrawn his earlier decision to call witnesses in his ongoing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja, insisting that there are no valid charges against him.

The development occurred on Monday during a resumed hearing of his terrorism-related trial before Justice James Omotosho, where Kanu declared that the Nigerian government had failed to establish any competent case requiring a defence.

Kanu, who had previously filed a formal application to summon witnesses, told the court that he no longer saw the need, stating: “No competent charge exists against me.”

The IPOB leader argued that he had been subjected to an unjust process, maintaining that the prosecution’s evidence fell short of proving the allegations brought against him.

In response, Justice Omotosho directed Kanu to put his new position in writing and formally serve it on the prosecution for record purposes. The judge also advised him to seek legal counsel from criminal law experts to understand the implications of waiving his right to defence.

The court adjourned the matter to November 4th, 5th, and 6th for both the defence and prosecution to file their final written addresses ahead of judgment.

Recall that Kanu had earlier named several high-profile individuals as potential witnesses in his defence, including former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, former Defence Minister Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Others listed were Minister of Works Dave Umahi, former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, former NIA Director-General Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, and former DSS Director-General Yusuf Bichi.

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There was anxiety on Saturday following reports that Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, one of the lawyers representing the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, collapsed while in detention at Kuje Prison.

Ejimakor was among those arrested during the Free Nnamdi Kanu Protest held in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Monday. The protesters were later arraigned before a magistrate court and subsequently remanded in prison custody.

Although they were granted bail, it was alleged that the presiding Magistrate, Abubakar Umar Sai’id, refused to sign the bail bond, preventing their release.

It has now emerged that Ejimakor reportedly slumped at the Kuje Correctional Centre and was rushed to the Kuje Medical Centre, where he is currently receiving treatment.

Confirming the incident, another of Kanu’s lawyers, Barrister Maxwell Opara, said he visited Ejimakor at the medical facility.

“Yes, I went to see him and he was admitted at the Kuje Medical Centre where they are treating him. I left there a few hours ago,” Opara said.

“The thing happened before I arrived. We got there around 12, and I started hearing the news. As one of his lawyers and colleagues, I insisted on seeing him. They took me to see him. I also saw Sowore and others before that.”

Ejimakor, a prominent member of Kanu’s legal team, has been actively involved in defending the detained IPOB leader in his ongoing legal battles with the Federal Government.

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