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Ondo Nightclubs Owners Break Silence On EFCC Operatives’ Invasion

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The Ondo State chapter of the Lounge and Club Owners Association has called on the state and federal government to investigate the raid by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission operatives on a nightclub and a hotel in Akure, the state capital.

The PUNCH reported that operatives of the commission, on Saturday, stormed the nightclubs and arrested about 127 youths who were suspected to be internet fraudsters.

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The suspects were apprehended in an early morning raid on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at simultaneous parties held in the state capital.

According to an EFCC statement on Saturday, credible intelligence indicated the party was initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, but was postponed to Saturday in an attempt to evade the commission’s security and intelligence networks.

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Speaking with journalists in Akure on Monday, the chairman of the association in the state, Mr Abayomi Ajepe, disclosed that the anti-graft commission operatives allegedly stormed the premises of the affected night clubs in a commando-like manner, like armed robbers, and vandalised property worth millions of naira during the sting operation.

Ajepe also noted that many of the customers and guests of the invaded hotel, including a new couple, were embarrassed as the operative was forcing the door open on the guests, adding that the incident had negatively affected the hospitality business in the state as many of their customers were afraid of lodging in their hotels.

He said, “What we experienced on Saturday we never expected of it, because Akure is a very peaceful community, we are not too happy, the incident happened around 1:45 am on Saturday morning and personally I drove to the scene to witness what was going on and on getting there it was barbaric so I have to turn back because I don’t want to get hurt.

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“I was on the phone, making calls to authorities but it was later we discovered that these people came from the Ibadan EFCC office because initially, we thought they were armed robbers. So we are telling the whole world that we are not too happy with what happened.

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“They took away the cameras, phones, CCTVs, along with about 127 people and some of them were still there. So why they are denying their operations here in Akure? We want the government to check-mate this unacceptable attitude in our community, government needs to come to our aides.”

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On the next action to be taken on the matter, the chairman said the association was still consulting their lawyers, either to take legal actions on the issues, lamenting that there had been no business after the incident happened.

Expressing his displeasure about the incident, the manager of the affected night club, the Signatures Elixir, Mr Ayo Abass-Akinwande, said, “At about 1:30 am on Saturday, June 8, 2024, the men of EFCC came into our premises. They were about 40 of them and they came with about 10 unregistered Toyota buses. The only thing that could be used to identify them was their red jackets and the guns.”

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He said, “After gaining access to our premises, they rounded everybody up and instructed them to lie down on the floor. Using snooker sticks to beat people to comply, Both male and female customers were dealt with mercilessly. Other members of their team went into the club and rounded everyone up, releasing tear gas in the process. We were lucky to have adequate first aid materials on the premises that were used by our staff to rescue some of the customers who had various forms of medical emergencies. The CCTV engine room was completely turned upside down and the CCTV engine was taken away.”

Similarly, the Chairman/CEO of Alba Royale Hote, Mr Ayo Alabi, confirmed that a lot of things were destroyed in the hotel by the operatives.

“I went there in the morning and I saw the massive damage, I was told that all the guests were seriously dealt with, they took away our CCTV engine, they never invited us, we never had any issue with them and we have evidence on how they carried out the operations,” Alabi lamented.

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Top 10 Smallest Airports In The World

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In a world filled with sprawling mega-terminals and transcontinental flights, there are still places where flying is raw, rugged, and incredibly personal.

Each one is a story of bold landings, short runways, and human ingenuity. although there’s no official metric defining “smallest” (e.g., by size, traffic, or infrastructure).

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These are the world’s smallest airports, tiny airstrips tucked into remote islands, mountainsides, and icy frontiers.

1. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport – Saba, Caribbean Netherlands

On the volcanic island of Saba, this airport looks more like a cliffside parking lot than a place for planes. Its runway is only 400 meters long, the shortest in the world that handles commercial flights.

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At each end is a drop straight into the Caribbean Sea. There is no room for error here, which is why only small STOL aircraft and specially trained pilots are allowed to land. Despite its challenges, this little airport is a lifeline for the island’s residents and the adventurous tourists who dare to visit.

2. Tenzing-Hillary Airport – Lukla, Nepal

High in the Himalayas near Mount Everest, Tenzing-Hillary Airport is not just small, it’s extreme. At nearly 9,400 feet above sea level, its 527-meter runway slopes sharply downward toward a cliff, helping planes gain speed on takeoff but giving pilots little room to brake when landing.

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Strong winds, fog, and unpredictable weather make it one of the most dangerous airports in the world. Yet it’s the main gateway for trekkers and climbers heading toward the Everest Base Camp, and most consider it an unforgettable part of the journey.

READ ALSO: Syncope Or Fainting: What You Need To Know

3. Barra Airport – Outer Hebrides, Scotland

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Barra is a place where the ocean tide decides when planes can land. This airport, located on a beach in the Outer Hebrides, is the only one in the world where scheduled commercial flights use sand as their runway.

Aircraft land and take off during low tide, using the wide, flat shoreline as a landing strip. When the tide comes in, the runway disappears beneath the waves. It is an extraordinary experience for passengers and a perfect example of how humans adapt to nature in creative ways.

4. Courchevel Altiport – French Alps, France

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This airport serves one of the most exclusive ski resorts in the world, but it is also one of the trickiest to land in. Courchevel’s runway is only 537 meters long and built into a steep Alpine slope.

There is no chance to circle back if something goes wrong, so the approach must be perfect. Surrounded by snow-covered peaks and perched at over 6,500 feet, the airport is used mostly by helicopters and small private planes. Landing here feels less like aviation and more like mountain sport.

5. Agatti Aerodrome – Lakshadweep, India

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Agatti is a thin strip of coral in the Indian Ocean, and its airport is just as narrow. The 1,200-meter runway stretches across a sliver of land, with water visible on both sides during takeoff and landing. It looks like the plane is about to land in the sea until the wheels touch down.

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With no space for expansion or emergency runoffs, pilots have to land with absolute precision. Despite its size, Agatti is the only air connection for the Lakshadweep islands, making it a vital piece of infrastructure.

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6. Luang Namtha Airport – Laos

Tucked into the forested hills of northern Laos, Luang Namtha Airport is a quiet, no-frills place that serves a largely rural area. The airport is small, with limited flights and a modest terminal building.

On most days, the sound of crickets and birds fills the air while the occasional propeller plane comes and goes. It might not look like much, but to locals and travelers looking for access to northern Laos, it is a key part of the journey.

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7. Helgoland Airport – North Sea, Germany

The island of Helgoland is a tiny speck in the North Sea, and its airport is equally compact. With a runway just 480 meters long, strong sea winds, and limited space, pilots need special training to land here.

Most aircraft that come in are small and lightweight, ferrying tourists and supplies from the mainland. Though the flight only takes about 20 minutes, the approach feels dramatic, with the island rising from the sea like a rock. For residents and visitors, this airport is a fragile but essential bridge to the rest of Germany.

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8. Yrausquin Airport – Aruba (Historic)

Before Aruba became a bustling tourist destination with a large international airport, it relied on small domestic airfields. One of the early ones bore the Yrausquin name, like the better-known airport in Saba.

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These runways were short, bare-bones, and often located in isolated parts of the island. Though most of them no longer exist, they played a critical role in connecting the Caribbean’s scattered islands before modern aviation infrastructure took hold.

9. Tiksi Airport – Siberia, Russia

Tiksi is about as remote as it gets. Located deep in the Arctic Circle, this small airport connects the town of Tiksi with the rest of Russia. Conditions here are harsh. Temperatures can plunge well below freezing, and snow and ice often cover the runway. Flights are rare, and delays are common due to unpredictable weather.

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Still, the airport is vital for delivering supplies, medical aid, and even news to the isolated population living in one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth.

10. Funchal Airport – Madeira, Portugal

Funchal’s airport, now named after Cristiano Ronaldo, is a modern facility today, but its past tells a different story. Originally, the runway was much shorter and curved along a cliffside with no margin for error.

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Pilots had to be specially trained to land there, especially with frequent crosswinds and sudden weather changes. Though the runway has since been extended on massive pillars over the ocean, the airport’s early days remain a dramatic chapter in aviation history.

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Russia Blacklists Yale University In Latest Crackdown

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Russia has labelled Yale University an “undesirable organisation”, authorities said Tuesday, part of the Kremlin’s crackdown on critics that has accelerated during Moscow’s campaign in Ukraine.

Being declared “undesirable” effectively bans entities from operating in Russia and makes anyone who works with them liable to prosecution.

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According to the prosecutor general, Yale’s activities were aimed at “violating territorial integrity of the Russian Federation, imposing an international blockade on the state and undermining its economic foundations.”

The prosecutors singled out Yale’s School of Global Affairs, accusing it of preparing opposition activists to organise protests in the country.

READ ALSO: Russian Strikes Kill 16 In Kyiv

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President Vladimir Putin’s top contender, late opposition activist Alexei Navalny who died in prison in unclear circumstances in February 2024, was among the school’s fellows.

The US university joins international organisations and nonprofits such as Amnesty International, British Council, Greenpeace, Elton John’s AIDS Foundation which Moscow has labelled as undesirable.

Russia has also put on the list independent media outlets such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Meduza.

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Man Dies After Being Sucked Into Plane Engine

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A man died after being sucked into the engine of a plane preparing to take off at Bergamo Airport in northern Italy Tuesday, an airport spokesperson told AFP.

The victim, who was “neither a passenger nor an airport employee”, forced his way onto the runway, where he was “pursued” in vain by airport security, according to the spokesperson for airport management company SACBO.

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According to Italy’s Corriere della Sera daily, the man — in his thirties — burst into the airport, then used an emergency exit to rush onto the runway toward an aircraft preparing for take-off.

Earlier in the day, Spanish airline Volotea wrote on social media that its flight from Bergamo to Asturias in Spain was involved in an “incident” at 10:35 am (0835 GMT).

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One person not onboard and not affiliated with the company was seriously injured. All 154 passengers and six crew are safe,” it said on X.

We are doing everything possible to support the affected passengers and crew, providing them with psychological support, while working in close coordination with the Italian authorities.”

The plane was an Airbus A319, according to tracking website Flightradar24.

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Flights were suspended at Bergamo Airport, Italy’s third largest by passenger volume, following the incident, but resumed at midday, according to SACBO.

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