Author: Chronicle Editor

Thousands of Nigerian women forced from their homes by Boko Haram jihadists held a protest on Sunday to demand better conditions as UN Security Council envoys visited their camp. The demonstrators accused local authorities and aid agencies of exacerbating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, which the UN says has left northeastern Nigeria on the brink of famine. They also accused local aid agencies of diverting assistance that should have gone to the 15,000 displaced people living in the Teachers Village camp near the flashpoint city of Maiduguri. The women held their protest as 15 ambassadors from the UN’s…

Sergio Aguero scored his fifth goal in his last three games to help Manchester City back into third place in the Premier League and keep Sunderland rooted to the bottom of the table. The Black Cats had defended doggedly before a swift City counter attack ended with Aguero prodding in Raheem Sterling’s low cross from close range. The visitors then clicked into gear as David Silva fed the explosive Leroy Sane for the Germany winger to double their lead after the break. Jermain Defoe did find the net in a rare Sunderland attack late on, but his header was ruled…

Antoine Griezmann opened and later completed the scoring as Diego Simeone’s men cruised to a simple victory in La Liga on Sunday The race for Champions League qualification in La Liga appears tighter than ever after Atletico Madrid moved above Real Sociedad and into fourth place thanks to a 3-0 home win over Valencia on Sunday. Griezmann gave the hosts the lead in the 10th minute at Vicente Calderon, finishing well from just inside the box after good approach play from Koke to score his 55th goal in 100 league games for Atleti. Sloppy play had allowed Valencia to gain…

A faction of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied reports of its plan to register an alternative party, Advanced Peoples Democratic Party (APDP). The Publicity Secretary of the Makarfi led National Caretaker Committee, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, said in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja that the committee or any of its members as individuals, had no hand in such plan. Adeyeye said the clarification became necessary to clear the air on falsehood that the committee was planning to abandon PDP structure for the recognised Chairman of the party, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff. “We state clearly and without ambiguity that…

The Sokoto State Government will conduct mass wedding for 100 couples in the next one month. The state Commissioner of Religious Affairs, Alhaji Mani Katami, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Sokoto that government would spend N32 million on the exercise. “ We are expecting the report of the main committee set up for the purpose of planning of the mass wedding. “ The main committee is overseeing the activities of other sub-committees such those on security and medical screening. “Afterward, we would organise a one-week training on skills acquisition for the would-be couples,” he said.…

Nigerian pirates have released seven Russian and one Ukrainian sailors after they were captured last month on the cargo ship the BBC Caribbean, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday, citing a human rights activist in Crimea. The sailors were released after talks between the owners of the ship and pirates. Interfax news agency quoted human rights activist Pavel Butsay, in the city of Sevastopol, as saying the sailors were at a Frankfurt airport and planned to return home next week. “We have great news: our sailors are in Frankfurt (Germany) already, all are fine, the talks went successfully, all eight…

Lionel Messi scored two superb individual goals as Barcelona produced an archetypal display to see off Celta Vigo and return to the top of La Liga. Outbound coach Luis Enrique watched his Barca side run Celta ragged with great interplay in attack and high pressing. Messi made it 1-0 when he ran 45 yards and slotted in, before Neymar scored with a superb dinked finish. Barca increased their lead with strikes from Ivan Rakitic and Samuel Umtiti before another solo effort from Messi. Relive the Barcelona’s brilliant display at the Nou Camp It was a performance which Barca are renowned…

Karim Benzema scored his first La Liga goals since January to set Real Madrid on their way to a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Eibar at Ipurua Municipal on Saturday. Without Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, Real started relatively slowly but took the lead after 14 minutes when Benzema fired under Yoel after his initial shot had been saved. They were two goals to the good 11 minutes later when Benzema nodded home James Rodriguez’s free-kick unmarked at the back post, before Rodriguez got in on the action himself when he looped a first-time shot over the Eibar stopper on the…

A round-up of the reports and results from this weekend’s Premier League action. SATURDAY: Manchester United 1 Bournemouth 1 Man United: Rojo (23’) Bournemouth: King (40’ pen) Red card: Surman (45’) • Manchester United spurned a chance to move into the top four after striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed a penalty in a 1-1 draw against 10-man Bournemouth. The result left United in sixth position on 49 points while Bournemouth, who had Andrew Surman sent off on the stroke of half-time for charging at Ibrahimovic, stay 14th with 27 points. Argentina defender Marcos Rojo fired the home side ahead in the…

Liverpool secured a vital advantage over Arsenal in the battle for a place in the Premier League’s top four with a well-deserved win at Anfield. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger gambled by leaving Alexis Sanchez – his leading scorer with 17 Premier League goals – on the bench but the ploy failed miserably as Liverpool took control by the break. Roberto Firmino’s far-post finish put Liverpool ahead after nine minutes and Sadio Mane confirmed their superiority with an emphatic strike just before half-time. Sanchez, predictably, emerged as a substitute at the start of the second half and set up a goal…