Author: Chronicle Editor

A security official at the Heathrow Airport has been arrested in an airport toilet by British officials after seven kilograms (15 pounds) of cocaine was seized. The National Crime Agency said on Saturday that the 30-year-old man, from London, was arrested Thursday with a 37-year-old Colombian man in a lavatory in Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Officials say the Colombian man had just arrived on a flight from the Colombian capital Bogota. READ: Briton, Ian Squire killed by Nigerian kidnappers for singing ‘Amazing Grace’ Another man was arrested in the arrivals airport of the busy international airport and a fourth man…

West Brom have held talks with Alan Pardew as they close in on the appointment of a new manager. The 56-year-old is favourite to replace Tony Pulis, who was sacked on Monday after two victories in 21 games. Former Crystal Palace manager Pardew, a former team-mate of West Brom technical director Nick Hammond, is understood to have met Baggies chief executive John Williams late last week. It is understood a decision on Pulis’ successor is yet to be made. READ: Lionel Messi signs new Barcelona deal with €700m buyout clause Former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic rejected the chance to…

A British optician kidnapped in Nigeria was murdered after playing ‘Amazing Grace’ on guitar to cheer up his fellow captives. Ian Squire, 57, was among four Christian missionaries seized by a gang during a raid in the early hours of October 13 in the country’s southern Delta state. Details of the medical charity worker’s death were initially withheld, but two of the other hostages held alongside Squire have now spoken of their horrifying ordeal. Speaking to The Telegraph, Shirley and David Donovan explained that Squire was shot to death the day after the four Britons were captured, and just after…

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with a buyout clause worth 700m euros (£626m). The 30-year-old Argentina international’s deal now runs until the end of the 2020-21 season. Since joining the club at the age of 13, Messi has helped Barcelona win eight Spanish league titles and won the Champions League four times. Messi, whose previous deal was due to expire next year, has scored 523 goals in 602 appearances for the club. Goals, goals, goals Messi’s season-by-season scoring tally in all competitions READ: Oscar Pistorius jail term increased to 13 years, five months He was…

Former Nigerian vice president Atiku Abubakar has dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress, his media aide Paul Ibe said on Friday. Atiku himself confirmed his resignation later on in a statement. Although he did not state which party he would join, the former VP is widely expected to return to the former ruling party People’s Democratic Party, on whose platform he was the VP between 1999 and 2007. “After due consultation with my God, my family, my supporters and the Nigerian people… I, Atiku Abubakar… hereby tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress while I take time to ponder…

Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has vowed to respond with “the utmost force” after 300 people were killed at a North Sinai mosque during Friday prayers. The al-Rawda mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed was bombed and fleeing worshippers were then gunned down. The Egyptian military has said it has conducted air strikes on “terrorist” targets in response. No group has yet claimed the attack, the deadliest in recent memory. After bombs were set off, dozens of gunmen waiting outside the mosque opened fire on those trying to escape. The assailants reportedly set parked vehicles on fire in the…

Time Magazine is disputing US President Donald Trump’s account of how he rejected a request for an interview and photo shoot ahead of its Person of the Year issue. On Friday, Mr Trump tweeted that Time had called to say he was “probably” going to be named Person of the Year. Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named “Man (Person) of the Year,” like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!— Donald J.…

The Katsina Police Command says it has arrested a 28-year-old housewife for allegedly killing her 40-day-old step son. The suspect resides in Majoji Village in Mai’adua Local Government Area of Katsina State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Mr Benson Gwana, paraded the suspect before newsmen on Friday in Katsina. “The suspect allegedly poisoned the baby through giving him drinking water. “The mother of the baby suspected foul-play and took the baby to the Mai’adua Hospital and later Daura General Hospital where it was confirmed that the boy was poisoned. READ: Three…

At least three peacekeepers and a Malian soldier were killed in an attack in northeast Mali, the UN’s MINUSMA mission to the country said on Friday. Besides an initial toll of four dead it said saying another Malian soldier and several other peacekeepers were wounded, some critically, a MINUSMA statement said. “This morning, a detachment of the MINUSMA force repelled an attack during a coordinated operation with FAMAS (Malian armed forces) in the Menaka region,” the statement said. It did not give the nationalities of the UN troops involved but contingents from Togo and Nigeria are deployed in the area.…

…FG plans to engage more youths in region in its Social Investment Programmes …We’re encouraged by Government’s efforts – EU Nigeria’s vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo says President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has proved that it is committed to the growth and development of the Niger Delta region by introducing modular refineries. He noted that the administration also established the Maritime University and executed the Ogoni Clean-Up because it has long term commitment to the region. Osinbajo said this on Thursday when a delegation of ambassadors from the US, UK and the European Union (EU), led by Mr. Ketil Karlsen, paid…