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What could have caused the plane crash that reportedly killed Wagner Warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin?

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What could have caused the plane crash that reportedly killed Wagner warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin?

 

 

Wagner warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led a failed uprising against the Kremlin exactly two months ago, was on board a plane that crashed on Wednesday, according to Russian officials – raising questions as to exactly how the disaster occurred.

 

What could have caused the plane crash that reportedly killed Wagner warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin?

 

The crash took place northwest of Moscow and killed all on board, said Russia’s aviation agency, including Prigozhin, chief of the mercenary group that gained prominence for its brutal methods worldwide and its battleground victories in the Ukraine war.

Here’s what we know so far.

 

What happened?

 

The plane was a private Embraer jet carrying seven passengers and three crew members, according to Russia’s emergency services ministry.

It had departed from Moscow and was en route to St. Petersburg when it crashed near the village of Kuzhenkino, in Russia’s western Tver region, Russian officials said. Flight data shows the plane reached an altitude of some 28,000 feet before it suddenly stopped transmitting tracking details.

The bodies of eight people have been found at the crash site, according to Russian state media. The official state news agency TASS reported the plane “burned up” on impact. It had been in the air for about half an hour.

 

Video published by Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti showed a plane plummeting with one wing missing. CNN is unable to confirm the authenticity of the video, but RIA Novosti claimed it was the moment that an Embraer jet fell from the sky over the Tver region.

It’s not yet clear what caused the plane to crash. Russian authorities said they are investigating and conducting search operations.

“It’s coming down quickly in a spin, and it’s trailing a lot of smoke. So, this is an aircraft that was on fire. And it looks like some structural pieces, aerodynamic surfaces, were missing,” veteran science and aerospace reporter Miles O’Brien told CNN after reviewing footage of the plane’s fall.

“An aircraft like this … they just don’t catastrophically drop out of the sky without something very unusual happening,” he added.

It could be caused by an explosion either inside or outside the aircraft, O’Brien added – like an explosive going off on board, or the aircraft being hit by a missile.

David Soucie, a former safety inspector with the US Federal Aviation Administration, echoed this possibility, saying the plane’s fall looked like it had only one wing left.

Was Prigozhin on board?

Prigozhin and several top Wagner lieutenants were named on a list of passengers shared by Russia’s aviation agency.

A Telegram channel linked to Wagner, which had previously carried the group’s propaganda videos, also issued a statement saying Prigozhin had been killed. CNN is unable to confirm the claim.

Other channels associated with Prigozhin and Wagner, including his official Telegram channel, have remained silent.

But there are other clues linking the warlord and the crash.

Another video released by RIA Novosti purports to show the crash site, where the last four digits of a registration number are visible on the plane engine debris: 2795. Prigozhin’s own plane, linked to his companies and the Wagner group, is registered as RA-02795.

 

Was this payback?

The crash comes exactly two months to the day after Prigozhin’s attempted mutiny against Russia’s military leadership.

Prigozhin and his Wagner troops had seized key military sites and marched toward Moscow, where the Kremlin had deployed heavily armed troops to the streets. But before they could face off, a deal was struck that ended the rebellion and sent Prigozhin and his fighters to neighboring Belarus.

It marked the biggest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rule in 23 years. But it also painted a target on Prigozhin’s back, with some experts speculating the warlord was a dead man walking.

 

Even US President Joe Biden suggested on Wednesday that Putin may have been involved in the crash. “I don’t know for a fact what happened, but I’m not surprised,” he said.

CIA Director Bill Burns and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have made similar comments, pointing out Putin’s long history of payback and the frequency with which Russian critics or dissidents die in mysterious circumstances.

Bill Browder, a Putin critic and formerly the largest foreign investor in Russia before he was expelled from the country, said he was surprised Prigozhin survived for as long as he did after the rebellion. Other Wagner leaders and Prigozhin allies may now be either on the run or in hiding, he said.

 

What’s the public reaction so far?

Prigozhin and Wagner have their share of supporters among the Russian public – which was evident during the failed insurrection. In cities briefly occupied by Wagner, videos showed residents cheering them on, taking pictures with fighters, and flagging down Prigozhin’s car just to shake his hand.

On Wednesday night, people gathered in St. Petersburg to leave tributes for Prigozhin such as flowers, candles and Wagner chevron patches. Video showemd members of the public unfurling a large banner outside Wagner’s headquarters that read, “Wagner PMC. We are together.”

Photos show a range of people mourning at the site, including young men, couples and teenagers; some are clearly distressed, embracing each other.

The news is likely to meet a far different reaction in Ukraine. Wagner forces were heavily involved in taking several Ukrainian towns early this year, delivering tangible progress for the Russian side – but often at the expense of sending waves of mercenaries into what Prigozhin called “the meat grinder”.

“There will be no tears shed here at all, if indeed he has died,” said CNN’s Chief International Security Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, currently based in Ukraine. He added that one Ukrainian soldier on the front lines had already texted him Wednesday to celebrate the news.

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Nigeria, once a shining example of democracy in Africa, has taken a dark turn

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Nigeria, once a shining example of democracy in Africa, has taken a dark turn.

By George O. Sylvester

 

Nigeria, once a beacon of hope and democracy in Africa, has devolved into a nation where the masses are being systematically oppressed and silenced. The current administration, led by President Tinubu, has turned the country upside down, leaving the people feeling helpless, voiceless, and disenfranchised. The government’s actions are eerily reminiscent of the dark days of military rule, where dissent was not tolerated, and opposition was brutally suppressed.

As Obafemi Awolowo aptly observed, “The people’s business is the most sacred business in the world.” It’s time for Nigerians to reclaim their business – their country – from those who seek to oppress and silence them.

The Tinubu administration’s penchant for authoritarianism has created an atmosphere of fear, where citizens are reluctant to speak out against injustice. The government’s stranglehold on free speech, assembly, and the press has effectively silenced dissenting voices. This is a recipe for disaster, as a nation that suppresses its citizens’ voices is doomed to fail.

PLO Lumumba’s words resonate deeply in this context: “The greatest problem with Africa is that those who have ideas lack the power and those who have power lack ideas.” Nigeria is suffering from a severe case of this affliction, where those in power are devoid of vision, and those with ideas are powerless.

We cannot afford to remain silent in the face of such brazen oppression. We must rise up, demand a better future, and hold our leaders accountable. The consequences of inaction are too dire to contemplate – a nation where freedom and justice are mere illusions, and citizens are forced to flee their own country in search of basic human rights.

Let us stand together, united in our quest for a better Nigeria. Let us make our voices heard, loud and clear, and demand an end to this oppressive regime. We owe it to ourselves, our children, and future generations to act now.

The time for change is now. Let us rise up and reclaim our nation. We must not allow the forces of oppression to silence us. We must not allow them to steal our future. We must stand together and fight for a better Nigeria.

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I didn’t snatch Asake’s mother from her husband -Musibau Alani

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I didn’t snatch Asake’s mother from her husband -Musibau Alani

 

 

Legendary Fuji musician, Alhaji Musibau Alani has refuted rumours spreading on social media that he snatched Fali, the mother of famous afrobeats musician Asake from her estranged husband, Mr Odunsi, fondly called Malo.

In a chat, the Stand Well Well crooner, who is Asake’s step-father confirmed that he was married to the singer’s mother in a union that produced three kids, two of which are late, but denied snatching her from any man.

Following heated allegations of neglect from Mr Odunsi against Asake, social media was agog with rumours that Alani was responsible for the breakup between the singer’s parents. Some also alleged that the veteran Fuji musician was on the band stand during Asake’s naming ceremony. But Musibau Alani has said there’s no iota of truth in all the rumours.

According to him, “I met Fali as a single mother, she was already separated from her husband, whom I didn’t know at that point in time. We got along and she moved in with me with her son Ahmed (Asake). I trained the boy.

“I later met her ex-husband, Malo who was working at a council in Lagos Island then. The day he saw me at the council, he was even telling his colleagues to thank me for taking good care of his son Ahmed (Asake). For the records, I did not snatch Fali from her first husband, and I did not play or attend Asake’s naming ceremony,” Alani stated.

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Half a Billion in Debt! Mr Macaroni Opens Up on Devastating Financial Loss, Betrayal

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Half a Billion in Debt! Mr Macaroni Opens Up on Devastating Financial Loss & Betrayal

BETRAYAL, DEBT, AND REDEMPTION: MR MACARONI OPENS UP ON LOSING HIS LIFE SAVINGS, BEING HALF A BILLION IN DEBT

Lagos, Nigeria – Popular Nigerian activist, comedian, and actor, Mr Macaroni has sent shockwaves across social media with a heartbreaking revelation about his battle with financial loss, crushing debt, and ultimate betrayal.

In a deeply personal post on X, the entertainer—real name Debo Adebayo—revealed how a combination of scams, bad investments, and reckless spending led him into financial ruin, forcing him into a debt exceeding half a billion naira.

The Shocking Financial Downfall

Mr Macaroni confessed that between 2021 and 2022, he lost his entire life savings due to a fraudulent scheme and a failed investment. But rather than share his struggles, he kept his pain hidden, pushing forward with his career while silently battling the devastating reality of being broke.

“It shook me deeply, but I told NO ONE about it… I have a duty to continue to entertain, inform, educate, and use my art to make society a better place. The show must go on!” he wrote.

In a desperate bid to stay afloat, he turned to borrowing, confident that his steady income would allow him to pay off his debts. However, he soon realized that he was barely surviving—earning millions, but spending it all on paying off accumulating interests.

“I got too comfortable, and it took me a long time to realize I was using the money I was earning to pay back interests,” he admitted, describing his financial recklessness as a long-standing personal struggle.

The Ultimate Betrayal

Just when he thought things couldn’t get worse, Mr Macaroni revealed that someone he deeply trusted—a person he considered a sister and a friend—betrayed him in an unimaginable way. The emotional and financial blow left him completely destabilized.

“I hardly trust people, and nothing surprises me about human nature. But this? I could never have prepared for. Such was the level of trust and love,” he lamented.

Rock Bottom & The Fight to Rebuild

Despite his record-breaking performances in Nollywood, receiving accolades at international film festivals, 2024 was still his most troubling year. Behind the scenes, he was sinking under a debt of over half a billion naira, carrying the weight of his financial mistakes, poor decisions, and betrayal.

But in true warrior spirit, Mr Macaroni refused to be defeated.

“One thing about me is that I’m a fighter! I have never backed down from a battle. When I fall, I bounce back even stronger!” he declared.

With the support of family, true friends, and sheer resilience, the beloved activist says he has turned a corner and is finally in a better place—stronger, wiser, and more determined than ever.

A Message to Those Struggling: “DO NOT GIVE UP!”

To everyone currently battling betrayal, financial hardship, or personal struggles, Mr Macaroni offers a powerful message of hope:

“People will betray you, but you must not let that break you. You are alive for a reason. Every day, fight to be a better person than you were yesterday!”

He urged his followers to learn from his mistakes, be more financially responsible, seek help when needed, and never let adversity define them.

“May the love in our hearts always be greater than the hate, betrayal, and wickedness in the world!” he concluded.

Social Media Reacts

Following his revelation, social media has been flooded with messages of support and admiration for Mr Macaroni’s honesty and resilience. Many have praised him for shedding light on financial literacy, debt struggles, and the importance of choosing the right people to trust.

From scandal to strength, his story serves as a powerful reminder that even the strongest among us face dark times—but with courage and determination, there is always a way forward.

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