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A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress has crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California, according to the base authorities.

The incident occurred soon after departure, prompting an immediate emergency response at the site.

“Emergency crews immediately ⁠responded to the scene ⁠and the situation ⁠is ⁠ongoing,” the base wrote on Monday in a ‌post on X.

At the time of reporting, officials had not confirmed any casualties, and the cause of the crash remained unclear.

The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic bomber designed to carry nuclear weapons, with a payload capacity of up to 70,000 pounds. Each aircraft is estimated to be worth about $110 million.

The crash comes less than 24 hours after another deadly aviation incident in the United States in which 12 people were killed when a plane went down near an airport in Missouri.

The fatal crash occurred on Sunday near Butler Memorial Airport in Bates County, south of Kansas City, the state’s largest city.

“Troopers are on scene assisting the Butler Police Department & Bates County Sheriff’s Office of a Fatal Plane Crash near the Butler Memorial Airport,” the Missouri State Highway Patrol posted on X.

“At this time reports indicate all occupants (12 total) have perished,” it said.

Missouri Highway Patrol Sergeant Justin Ewing said the aircraft was being used for skydiving operations.

He added that emergency teams were alerted at about 11:30 a.m. local time on Sunday after reports of a crash and fire.

According to him, firefighters quickly contained the blaze, while describing the scene as “brutal.”

“It landed in a field adjacent to the airport, but I think they’re shutting down the roadway just as a precaution,” Ewing said.

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Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have rescued Amina Abubakar, the wife of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe, who was abducted alongside her husband by bandits in Katsina.

The rescue followed a fierce encounter between troops and armed bandits during a search-and-rescue operation in Matazu Local Government Area of the state.

Military sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was carried out under Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, a sustained offensive launched after the abduction of the retired senior military officer and members of his family.

According to the sources, troops acting on credible intelligence conducted coordinated operations across Matazu and adjoining communities, targeting known bandit enclaves and escape routes.

The breakthrough came when soldiers made contact with the kidnappers at Tunga village, forcing the criminals to abandon their captive and flee under intense military pressure.

“The bandits shot her and fled when we made contact at Tunga village. We have rescued Mrs. Abubakar. She is bleeding, we have given her first aid and are moving her for urgent medical attention,” a military source disclosed.

The source said the rescued victim was immediately stabilised by troops at the scene before being evacuated to a medical facility for comprehensive treatment.

The development comes days after retired Major General Abubakar Rabe reportedly lost his life while in captivity, sparking outrage and renewed calls for intensified military action against bandit groups operating in the North-West.

Military authorities said follow-up operations have been intensified, with troops maintaining pressure on fleeing bandits and suspected kingpins believed to be responsible for the abduction and subsequent killing of the retired general.

Security sources added that the ongoing clearance operation under Operation CLEAN SWEEP III would continue until all identified criminal hideouts in the area are dismantled.

They reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces and other security agencies to tracking down those responsible for the attack and ensuring they face justice.

The Nigerian military has in recent weeks stepped up coordinated air and ground offensives against bandit strongholds across Katsina and neighbouring states as part of efforts to curb kidnapping, cattle rustling and other violent crimes in the region.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.

The order was given on Monday by Justice Peter Lifu in his ruling on the suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026.

According to him, the affected parties have persistently failed to meet constitutional performance thresholds.

The other parties affected are the Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party.

The National Forum of Former Legislators had, in the suit, prayed the court to determine whether INEC has a constitutional obligation to remove political parties that fail to meet the electoral performance thresholds set out in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s regulations.

The plaintiff argued that the five political parties listed as defendants in the matter had persistently failed to meet the constitutional benchmarks required to retain their registration.

The former legislators stressed that the requirements include winning at least 25 percent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level.

They told the court that the ADC and the four other parties performed poorly in both the 2023 general elections and by-elections conducted by INEC, thereby failing to win seats across key tiers of government.

The litigants insisted that the continued existence of the ADC and the other defendants as recognised political parties in Nigeria is unlawful and undermines the integrity of the country’s electoral system.

Among other reliefs, the plaintiff urged the court to declare that INEC is duty-bound to deregister such parties and compel the commission to do so before preparations for the 2027 elections advance further.

The plaintiff also asked the court to restrain the five parties from participating in elections or engaging in political activities such as campaigns, rallies and primaries, and to bar INEC from recognising or dealing with them unless they strictly comply with constitutional provisions.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, while the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord party.

Both politicians and other candidates may be affected by the court ruling.