Author: David Great

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the plot by some individuals to disturb the peace of Sierra Leoneans. The condemnation is contained in a statement issued by ECOWAS on Sunday in Abuja. “The bloc has learnt, with utter disgust, a plot by certain individuals to acquire arms and disturb the peace and constitutional order in Sierra Leone. “ECOWAS condemns this act and calls for the arrest and prosecution of everyone involved in the illegality,“ it said. Sierra Leone declares nationwide curfew after military breach The regional bloc reiterated its zero tolerance for unconstitutional change of government.…

At least 150 people, including women and children, were abducted with one person killed in a coordinated attack by gunmen on four villages in Nigeria’s northwest Zamfara state, residents said on Saturday. Kidnapping for ransom has become rife in northwestern Nigeria in recent years where armed gangs, often referred to locally as bandits, have targeted villages, schools, and travellers, demanding millions of naira in ransom and making it unsafe to travel by road or to farm in some areas. Zamfara police spokesperson did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the attack, which took place late on Friday.…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the World Bank President Mr Ajay Banga “to promptly, transparently and effectively conduct an investigation into spending of loans and other facilities by the country’s 36 state governors and to suspend any loans and funding if there is relevant admissible evidence of mismanagement or diversion of public funds by any of the states.” SERAP also urged the World Bank to “suspend further applications for loans and any other funding to the 36 states until these states can satisfactorily explain details of spending of loans and other facilities obtained from the Bank and…

Kai Havertz sent Arsenal to the top of the Premier League as the German’s last-gasp goal clinched a hard-fought 1-0 win at Brentford on Saturday. Havertz was a Champions League final hero for Chelsea in 2021, but he has endured a torrid time since crossing London to join Arsenal in the close-season. The 24-year-old midfielder finally gave a glimpse of why Mikel Arteta splashed out £65 million ($80 million) to sign him when he headed home in the closing minutes. Havertz’s second goal for Arsenal was his first in his last 10 appearances, moving his team one point clear of…

Troops of the Nigerian Army and local vigilantes rescued six hostages abducted by bandits in a forest in the Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi on Friday. Yahaya Sarki, Governor Nasir Idris’ media aide, stated in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday that the all-male hostages who were rescued in good condition had been reunited with their families. “Troops of 1 Battalion, Dukku Barracks, Birnin Kebbi, in conjunction with vigilantes raided Kogon Damisa Hill around Saminaka in Shanga Local Government Area, a border town between Kebbi and Niger on Friday. Kidnappers free wife of slain Kaduna pastor “The team dislodged a large…

Eight persons died in an auto crash at Oke-Onigbin on the Omu-Aran-Ilorin Highway in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara on Friday. An articulated vehicle and a bus were involved in the accident. Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Kwara, Stephen Dawulung, said in a statement issued by its spokesman, Busari Basambo, on Saturday in Ilorin that the accident happened in the night. “Preliminary investigations showed that the Ilorin-bound Mitsubishi bus was overtaking another bus when it had a head-on collision with the articulated vehicle. “The collision resulted in the deaths of eight persons on the spot.…

Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) of the Nigerian Army have arrested a suspected killer of a couple in Kwi Community, Riyom Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State. Lt.-Col. Ishaku Takwa, the acting deputy director of army public relations of the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba, near Jos, disclosed this at a news conference on Saturday in Jos. On August 14, suspected gunmen killed a newly married couple, one Rwang Danladi, 37 and his wife, Sandra, 28. The couple, both teachers of BECO Comprehensive Secondary School, Kwi, were killed when gunmen stormed the school on that fateful…

The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has eliminated a key Boko Haram terrorist leader, Abu Asad and several others in air strikes on their hideout at Tagoshe on Mandara Mountains in Borno. The Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. Gabkwet said the air strikes which were conducted on Friday, was one of the most successful strikes undertaken by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai in recent times. He said the NAF discovered a massing of Boko Haram terrorists in an isolated location…

Hamas fighters are set to release a new wave of hostages Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, officials said, offering hope to anguished families after seven weeks of war that have killed thousands of people. Key mediator Qatar was expected to announce the numbers of prisoners and hostages to be freed later Saturday, the second swap since a four-day ceasefire came into effect on Friday and largely silenced the guns on both sides. Israeli authorities said they had received a list of the hostages to be freed but did not provide numbers or the precise timing. On Friday, the first…

Gunmen believed to be bandits attacked and killed 20 people on Friday evening in the Yangtu Development Area and Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State. A youth leader and public affairs analyst, Mr. Ure Caleb, informed Chronicle NG that more than 20 people were killed in separate attacks on communities in Ussa local government and Yangtu Special Development Area. Chairman of Ussa Local Government Council, Mr.  Peter Shamwun, told journalists that the gunmen attacked and killed nine people in Rubur Ribasi, Nyicwu, and Ruwah Communities of Yangtu Special Development Area around 6pm on Friday. Shamwun said the bandits laid…