Author: Chronicle Editor

The Nigerian Army has rescued 211 civilians held captive by the Boko Haram terrorists at Cingal Murye and Maja villages in Northern Borno on Saturday. Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, the Director Army Public Relations, said in a statement on Sunday that troops of 22 Brigade Garrison, Operation Lafiya Dole, rescued the victims during an operation in the villages. The Nigerian Army said that one terrorist was neutralised while 11 bicycles were recovered from the fleeing terrorists. “In addition, the patrol team escorted two heavy duty trucks and 18 pickup vans to recover Internally Displaced Persons’ food stuff from Mala Maja,” the…

Reports have emerged that Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari who returned from London after a medical vacation has concluded plans to sack some of his Ministers. According to The PUNCH, the sources, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject, said the changes were going to be ‘earth-shattering’ because a few of the President’s powerful aides and prominent members of the administration would be affected. It was also revealed that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, is likely to be affected by the changes. A senior government official, who preferred anonymity said, “In the…

War torn South Sudan seems to be gracing the headlines for all the wrong reasons. From hunger to famine and now they seem to have set a world record but not one to envy. The crisis divided country has slammed a staggering $10,000 as foreign worker visa fees attracting criticism from international aid agencies. The agencies have warned that the situation would worsen a humanitarian crisis in the famine-hit country. “The government and the army have largely contributed to the humanitarian situation,” said Elizabeth Deng of Amnesty International. “And now, they want to create profit from the crisis they have…

Nigeria’s financial and telecoms regulator said it agreed on Friday with local banks to end the prospect of receivership for mobile operator Etisalat Nigeria, which has missed a payment on a $1.2 billion loan. A banking source told Reuters on Wednesday that the Nigerian affiliate of Abu Dhabi-listed telecoms company Etisalat had given notice to its Nigerian lenders that it would miss a payment in February. The two sides have not been able to agree on terms. “Friday’s meeting succeeded in halting the attempt by Etisalat’s creditors at bringing it under any form of takeover,” the National Communications Commission (NCC)…

Security operatives and members of Civilian JTF volunteer group have intercepted a pregnant suicide bomber and another woman in Borno State. The two female suicide bombers were subdued when they refused to surrender and attempted to attack a security post. The incident occurred in Ummarari village along Mulai axis of Maiduguri Damboa road at the outskirts of Maiduguri. The spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in North-East, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, said that the rescue workers have evacuated the bodies of the suicide bombers. “When we got the alert on the incident, the NEMA emergency workers in collaboration with other…

Non-league Lincoln City’s astonishing run in the FA Cup came to an end as Arsenal remain on course for a 13th title by reaching the semi-finals. Lincoln, 88 places below their Premier League opponents, held their own for much of the first half and even went close to scoring when Petr Cech saved Nathan Arnold’s curled effort. However, Theo Walcott’s deflected strike gave the Gunners the lead on the stroke of half-time and Olivier Giroud put the hosts in control with a clinical strike just after the break. Lincoln’s dreams of a fight back were dashed when Luke Waterfall scored…

Professor Charles Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has said that the present government inherited a bad economy. “To be fair, this government inherited a bad economy,” Soludo said at an economic talk shop, organised by the Vanguard newspapers. “The previous government had an unprecedented rate of debt accumulation, even at a time of unprecedented oil boom and was even depleting our foreign reserves instead of doubling the reserves. “Insecurity, especially in the north-east was very high, and corruption was pervasive,” he added. Presently, he said, the size of nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has…

Goals from David Silva and Sergio Aguero gave Manchester City a deserved win over Middlesbrough and earned Pep Guardiola’s side a place in the FA Cup semi-finals. Silva scored just three minutes in from six yards out after Pablo Zabaleta had time and space to cross low from the right. Middlesbrough goalkeeper Brad Guzan produced a number of fine saves to deny Silva, Leroy Sane and deflect an Aguero shot on to the post. But Aguero finally made the result safe for the visitors when he converted from Sane’s low cross to earn his side a Wembley semi-final. City have…

As the love scandal involving Apostle Johnson Suleman and Canada-based Stephanie Otobo gets messier, Kayamo Chambers has issued some questions for the cleric to answer. Lawyers to the cleric of Auchi-based Omega Fire Ministries Church, had on Thursday demanded that Keyamo, whose law firm is representing Otobo, retract all publications, apologise publicly to him, and pay him N1 billion Suleiman is alleging blackmail and injuries inflicted on him. Two lawyers of the Keyamo Chambers, Uchenna B. Moneke and Oluwafemi O.N. Olabisi, promptly responded to Suleman’s demands. The firm noted that Festus Keyamo, the Head of Chambers, was not personally involved…

The Nigerian Police on Saturday, has started 24-hour air surveillance on Abuja-Kaduna highway following increase of traffic on the road. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 7, Abuja, Alhaji Salisu Fagge, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Saturday that the measure was part of efforts at ensuring safety of travellers on the road. Traffic on the Abuja-Kaduna road is expected to be high from now till the next six weeks due to the shift of air transport services from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to Kaduna Airport. The Abuja airport was closed on Wednesday for upgrade…