Author: Chronicle Editor

Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has warned that Nigeria will no longer exist as a sovereign entity if bandits are declared terrorists. The Kaduna-based cleric directed his warning at the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, stating that proscribing the unidentified gunmen who have wreaked havoc across the country in the past year, will lead to devastating consequences. According to Gumi, the result would consume the entire country. Sheikh Gumi disclosed this in a Facebook post, on Sunday night. He, however, admitted that the devastation caused by bandits in the Northwest amounted to terrorism. He said: “The acts the bandits are…

President Muhammadu Buhari has officially launched eNaira, the Nigerian digital currency in Abuja on Monday. Buhari performed the ceremony at the State House with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele in attendance. Also present was the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari. The e-Naira had been slated to launch on October 1; However, the CBN suspended the plans, stating that its emergence coincided with plans for Independence Day. “The launch of the eNaira is a culmination of several years of research work by the Central Bank of Nigeria in advancing…

Sudan’s military has dissolved civilian rule, arrested political leaders and declared a state of emergency. Gen Abdel Fattah Burhan, who had been heading a joint council with civilian leaders, blamed political infighting. Protesters have taken to the streets of the capital, Khartoum, and there are reports of gunfire. Military and civilian leaders have been at odds since long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown two years ago and a transitional government set up. Although the country remains in a deep economic crisis, there had been more international support – and a military takeover will put that hugely at risk. Video footage…

A group of suspected Fulani gunmen have reportedly killed two persons in Jankasa village, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday. According to a resident of the village, Ayuba Musa, those who were injured during the attack have been taken to the hospital for medical care. He said, “The attackers stormed the village at about 4:30pm on Sunday when people were relaxing. They started shooting sporadically as they entered the village in their large number. “So far, l saw two dead bodies while others I could not ascertain their number were seriously injured and have been taken to…

Cam Adair finally realised that his addiction to video games was out of control when it made him consider ending his life. “I struggled with it for 10 years,” he says. “I dropped out of high school, never went to college, and pretended to have jobs to deceive my family. “I eventually wrote a suicide note, and it was on that night that I realised I needed to get help. I’m now 3,860-day-free from my gaming addiction.” Mr Adair, a 32-year-old Canadian, has gone on to become the founder of Game Quitters, an online support group for people struggling with…

BudgIT Foundation, a civic-tech organisation leading the advocacy for transparency and accountability in public finance in Nigeria and three other African countries, has raised concerns over critical issues on the 2022 proposed budget following its analysis of the 2,168-page document. These critical issues include the complete omission of the Niger Delta Development Commission’s (NDDC) capital budget from the overall budget, continuous unrealistic revenue projections, soaring year-on-year debt burden and weak accountability structure, among others. According to Mr Gabriel Okeowo, BudgIT’s CEO, the omission of NDDC’s entire capital budget allocation from the proposed 2022 budget and public scrutiny is a source…

Chairman Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and Chief Executive Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, has promised to work with members to strengthen the organization. Ugbe made the promise on Saturday at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, venue of his investiture as the 14th Chairman of BON. In a speech delivered at the event, Ugbe thanked BON members for electing him and promised to work with everyone towards the realization of the organisation’s collective vision. Ugbe, who is the first Chairman from the pay television sector, listed the priorities for his tenure. He stated that his administration will be committed to the…

Colombia has announced that the country’s most wanted drug trafficker will be extradited to the US after he was captured in a raid. Dairo Antonio Úsuga, known as Otoniel, was seized after a joint army, air force and police operation on Saturday. He led the country’s largest criminal gang and has been on the US Drug Enforcement Agency’s most wanted list for years. US officials had placed a $5m (£3.6m) bounty on his head. They accused him of importing at least 73 metric tonnes of cocaine into the country between 2003 and 2014. Colombia’s Defence Minister Diego Molano told El…

Alec Baldwin was drawing a revolver across his body and pointing it at a camera during rehearsal on the set of “Rust” when the weapon fired and struck the cinematographer in the chest, according to an affidavit released on Sunday. The affidavit provided additional details about Thursday’s accidental shooting in New Mexico that killed 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. Baldwin had been handed the prop gun and told it was unloaded, authorities in Santa Fe have said in court documents. “Joel stated that they had Alec sitting in a pew in a church building setting, and he…

Armed men have arrested several members of Sudan’s transitional government in their homes, reports say, as the country’s political crisis escalates. At least four cabinet ministers were detained by unidentified soldiers shortly before dawn on Monday. One report suggests civilian Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok was arrested, but this has not been confirmed. It is unclear who carried out the arrests. The military has not commented on the reports. Witnesses have said the internet is down in the the capital, Khartoum, while images have appeared on social media showing angry crowds burning tyres in the streets. Sudan’s main pro-democracy groups has…