Author: Chronicle Editor

The Presidency has denied reports of the resignation of the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Alhaji Lawal Daura. Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, described the purported resignation as “mere distraction and pure mischief’’. Shehu stated in Abuja on Sunday night that the Chief of Staff left Abuja on Saturday for China on presidential assignment and would be back by the middle of the week. He said: “The report is pure mischief. What I can tell you is that…

Two senior Nigerian army officers escaped any harm as their convoy encountered and cleared four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) buried by suspected elements of Boko Haram terrorists along their way from Bama to Gwoza on Saturday. Brig.- Gen. Sani Usman, the Director Army Public Relations stated this in a statement in Maiduguri. The Chief of Administration, Nigerian Army headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Muhammad Alkali and the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu were returning from an operational visit to troops involved in clearing of insurgents when they encountered the devices. “They encountered the four clustered IEDs…

31-year-old Gaziantepspor defender was found to have taken his own life on Sunday, with the Turkish club’s president confirming the tragic news Gaziantepspor defender Frantisek Rajtoral has tragically taken his own life, the Turkish club’s president has confirmed. The 31-year-old was found to have passed away at his house on Sunday, with the alarm raised after he failed to turn up to training. The former Czech Republic international moved to Turkey in August 2016 having previously played for Marila Pribram, Banik Ostrava, Viktoria Plzen and Hannover. Gaziantepspor president Ibrahim Kizil told Sporx: “Unfortunately I can confirm that the news of…

Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has been named as the PFA Players’ Player of the Year. The former Leicester City midfielder has been in sensational form since moving to London, and has been rewarded with the coveted trophy. The award is voted for by the other Premier League players, with Kante winning the 2016-17 crown after an excellent season since moving from Leicester City. Riyad Mahrez won the award last season with the Foxes, with Eden Hazard, Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale all lifting the trophy in the last five years. https://twitter.com/PFA/status/856262299107172352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goal.com%2Fen%2Fnews%2F8%2Fmain%2F2017%2F04%2F23%2F34873382%2Fchelseas-kante-named-pfa-players-player-of-the-year

Lionel Messi hit another goal-scoring landmark on Sunday by netting twice against Real Madrid to take his tally for Barcelona to 500. https://twitter.com/OptaJose/status/856246048486039553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goal.com%2Fen%2Fnews%2F8%2Fmain%2F2017%2F04%2F23%2F34870452%2Fmessi-scores-500th-goal-for-barcelona-to-win-el-clasico His 500th goal, also proved crucial as it gave Barca a 3-2 win at the Bernabeu to breath fresh life into La Liga’s title race. He swept the ball beyond Keylor Navas with virtually the last kick of the game after a fine run by Sergi Roberto. Messi, 29, has scored 343 goals in La Liga, 94 in the Champions League, 43 in the Copa del Rey as well as 12 in the Spanish Super Cup, five…

Barcelona gave their La Liga title hopes a huge boost with a 3-2 defeat of arch-rivals Real Madrid in a thrilling Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. Lionel Messi scored a brace, including a superb last-gasp winner, and Ivan Rakitic added the third to pull Barca even with Real atop the league on 75 points, though the hosts still enjoy a game in hand. And the game started with a bang. Cristiano Ronaldo had a penalty shout after just two minutes when he looked to have been taken down in the box by Samuel Umtiti after touching the ball…

Arsenal continued their charge towards a third FA Cup crown in four years with a dramatic comeback victory against Manchester City. Alexis Sanchez scored a dramatic extra-time winner as Arsenal came from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. The Chile international struck from inside the six-yard box in the first period of extra time as the Gunners booked a final date against London rivals Chelsea. In a controversial match, Sergio Aguero had a penalty appeal turned down and a goal disallowed by referee Craig Pawson, who also rejected Sanchez’s demands for a first-half…

The Kano State Chapter of Red Cross Society on Sunday distributed relief materials worth millions of Naira to 516 Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs) in the State. The Red Cross Chairperson in Kano, Dr. Urrata Balla, presented the materials to the IDPs at Hotoro in Tarauni and Gaida in Kumbotso Local Government Areas of the state. Balla said the gesture was necessary due to the condition IDPs found themselves. “Red Cross cannot compensate the IDPs over what they have lost but will continue to do everything humanly possible to assist them so as to make them feel and have sense of…

Wayne Rooney was on target as Manchester United closed in on the top four with a comfortable 2-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor. Anthony Martial scored his 25th goal for United after a devastating counter-attack 21 minutes in to give the visitors the lead, before the returning Rooney – making his first start since early March – bundled the ball home six minutes before the break to make it two. United’s tempo dropped after the interval but they were rarely troubled by a Burnley side who have won just once in 11 league games, and are now just five…

The newly deployed mobile CCTV camera procured by the Lagos State Government for the operatives of the Lagos Rapid Response Squad has recorded its first surveillance arrest. The suspect was arrested in Oshodi while the Mobile CCTV was being deployed at Oshodi to monitor the area. The suspect Emmanuel Alowonle, 18-year old, a native of Ondo State, disclosed during interrogation that he came to Lagos about two years ago and work as a bus conductor in the area. Alowonle was arrested after stealing from another commuter handbag on the pedestrian walk way. The mobile CCTV camera was parading oshodi when…