Author: Chronicle Editor

An uncrewed Chinese spacecraft successfully landed on the surface of Mars on Saturday, state news agency Xinhua reported, making China the second space-faring nation after the United States to land on the Red Planet. The Tianwen-1 spacecraft landed on a site on a vast plain known as Utopia Planitia, “leaving a Chinese footprint on Mars for the first time,” Xinhua said. Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a message of congratulations to all the people involved in the mission. “You were brave enough for the challenge, pursued excellence and placed our country in the advanced ranks of planetary exploration,” he said.…

Brazilian centre-back David Luiz will leave Arsenal this summer. The 34-year-old met with club officials on Friday when it was decided to sever ties after two years at Emirates Stadium. Luiz has made 30 appearances in all competitions this season but the Gunners feel they need to look towards the future after a torrid campaign. Tuchel claims full responsibility for Chelsea’s loss to Arsenal It is not known whether the former Paris St Germain and Chelsea defender intends to remain in England. Luiz, who joined from London rivals Chelsea for £8m in August 2019, has missed Arsenal’s last three games…

Manchester City twice came from behind to win a Premier League classic against Newcastle in their first game since being confirmed as champions. Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick for City and his superb backheeled finish was the highlight of a remarkable game that swung back and forth. Pep Guardiola, who surprisingly selected Scott Carson in goal – almost a decade on from his last English top-flight game – saw his City side dominate early on but fall behind to Emil Krafth’s powerful header from Jonjo Shelvey’s corner. Joao Cancelo equalised with a deflected effort into the bottom right corner and…

Parents and relatives of the 16 remaining kidnapped students and three members of the staff of Greenfield University, Kaduna, said on Friday that they have run out of cash to pay as ransom after already sending N60 million to the abductors. The bandits are insisting on collecting the balance of N100 million for them to release their captives. The traumatised parents, who gathered for another prayer session in Kaduna for the safe return of the abductees yesterday, pleaded with the federal government to assist them in getting freedom for the students. They said the cumulative ransom of N160 million demanded…

The prime suspect in the killing of Iniobong umoren was paraded on friday. The suspect, Uduak Akpan narrated how he murdered the job seeker by hitting her on the head with a stabilizer after raping her. Akpan was paraded along with his father, Frank Akpan, in Uyo by the Akwa Ibom Police Commissioner Andrew Amiengheme, following a social media report that the suspect had committed suicide in custody to shield other suspects. Iniobong, 26, was laid to rest on Friday in her hometown of Nung Ita Ikot Essien, Oruk Anam Local Government Area of the state amidst tears as Niger…

The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has promised not to disappoint Nigerians asking him to run for the presidency in 2023. Bello stated this on Friday, while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme. “Nigerians, the youth and women, including very objective elites, are asking me to run for president in 2023. “I believe it is high time that we looked into capacity, who can do the job, who is going to unify this country. Northern youths ask Yahaya Bello to run for Presidency “I think they are seeing something in me that they are asking me to come…

Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has said it is in support of the ban on open grazing announced by Southern Governors on Tuesday. In a communique issued on Friday at the end of a meeting held in Ogun State, the group also reiterated its call for restructuring. The Governors announced the ban on Tuesday after meeting in Delta State. They also called for President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation over the state of insecurity. “Afenifere is in total support of the decision of Governors of the 17 states in Nigeria banning open grazing of livestock in any of the states…

The possibility of shifting the date for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is very high, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said. JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, explained that this was because of the inability of at least 600,000 candidates who have indicated interest to participate, to register for the examination scheduled to hold between June 5 and 19. Speaking at a virtual meeting with 2021 UTME committee members on Friday, he disclosed that 1.1 million candidates have so far registered for the 2021 UTME, and the board anticipated approximately 1.9 million registrations at the end…

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, a lawmaker who represented Abia North senatorial district in the 8th Assembly believes Nigeria has nothing to gain from open grazing at this time. He also commended the recent prohibition of the movement of cattle by foot in the South by governors in the region. Speaking on Thursday when he featured as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Senator Ohuabunwa decried the loss of lives in the South as a result of the clashes between herders and local farmers. He said, ”Open grazing should stop, it is the right time to stop it because it is…

One of the leaders of the bandits terrorizing communities in Niger state has been arrested by the Nigerian Army. The bandits’ leader who is popularly referred to as Jack Bros Yellow was apprehended during the ongoing military operations in forests across Niger state. According to security reports, Yellow was arrested in one of the forests between Shiroro and Rafi local government. The Army is being silent about the ongoing military operations due to the activities of Informants in order not to jeopardize the whole operation. Buhari asks Nigerians to pray against kidnapping, banditry The arrest is yet to be confirmed…