Author: Chronicle Editor

Jermain Defoe scored his 150th Premier League goal as Sunderland comfortably beat Hull City to secure consecutive top-flight wins for the first time since May. Defoe’s darting run and firm low finish made him just the eighth player in Premier League history to bring up the milestone, in a first half that otherwise was a positive one for the visitors. The in-form Victor Anichebe scored twice after the break for David Moyes’ rejuvenated side, who remain inside the bottom three but are at least off the foot of the standings, replaced by Swansea. Hull had their chances and looked good…

Yaya Toure marked his shock return to the Manchester City team with two goals as his side grabbed a dramatic late win at Crystal Palace. Toure, making his first Premier League appearance of the season, combined with Nolito before firing City ahead. Palace’s pressure paid off when Wilfried Zaha set up substitute Connor Wickham to smash home a second-half equaliser. But Toure, who has not figured at all for City for almost three months, had the final word when he turned home Kevin de Bruyne’s corner from close range. The win moves City second in the table, level on points…

The persistent activities of the Niger Delta Avengers seems to have sparked the Nigerian army strategic and planning unit into life. The Nigerian Army’s new 6 Division in Port Harcourt is to organise and improve internal security operations in four states of the volatile Niger Delta. Major General Kasimu Abdulkarim, the pioneer General Officer Commanding (GOC), of the Division , said on Saturday in Port Harcourt. Abdulkarim said the military had recorded success in the war against terror and was committed to combating emerging security threats in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country. According to him, the…

MMM, a financial outfit discredited by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has donated relief materials worth N5 million to two Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The gesture was part of the MMM Nigerian community’s humanitarian week tagged ‘MMM cares’ to mark its one year anniversary. The Gwoza and Bama IDP Camp located in Durumi area and the New Kuchingoro IDP camp were the two beneficiaries of the relief materials. Bags of rice, beans, garri, as well as cartoons of beverages and noodles, were some of the items donated by the group. The group…

Security guards shot dead on Saturday a man who was trying to detonate a bomb at a camp in northeastern Nigeria for people displaced during a seven-year insurgency waged by Islamist militant group Boko Haram. PR Nigeria, a state-approved agency, said the incident occurred at a spot where refugees are screened before entering the camp, which is located in the Muna Garage district of the city of Maiduguri. Ibrahim Abdulkadir, a spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), confirmed that the suicide bomber had been killed. The attempted suicide bombing came a day after multiple blasts rocked Maiduguri, the…

Olivier Giroud’s 89th-minute equaliser earned Arsenal a point and denied Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United a victory they deserved at Old Trafford. Juan Mata looked to have put United on course for three points with a sweeping left-foot finish from Ander Herrera’s cut-back after 68 minutes. Arsenal had not had an effort on goal but secured the draw that leaves them six points ahead of United when substitute Giroud rose at the far post to head home Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross. United had controlled a game that was ordinary for long periods, with Arsenal keeper Petr Cech making important interventions and Mourinho…

A first ever continental title is the goal for Cameroon when the women’s Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on Saturday but will the hosts flourish or collapse under the weight and pressure of expectation? The Indomitable Lionesses are one of seven teams desperate to deny Nigeria another African title. The Super Falcons are the dominant force on the continent, having been crowned African champions seven times. The Super Falcons first won the African Cup of Nations in 1998 when Nigeria hosted the tournament. They then went on to win in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2014. They also…

An asylum seeker from Myanmar has been identified as the man who set himself alight in a bank in the Australian city of Melbourne on Friday. The man, known to his friends as Noor, set himself alight using gasoline at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia branch in the Melbourne suburb of Springvale. The 21-year-old is under guard in hospital after the incident that injured 26 others. Five bystanders suffered burns and 21 more smoke inhalation. The suspect had arrived in Australia as an unaccompanied minor and was awaiting receipt of a refugee visa. He arrived by boat three years ago…

By Henrietta Olotu It would seem that hardly is any member of the public surprised at the ongoing scandal that has engulfed Heritage Bank. SaharaReporters has just disclosed how practically insolvent Heritage Bank has become. The bank is finding it extremely difficult to pay depositors and meet its general obligations to the public. As expected, it has become tough to obtain from its automatic teller machines (ATMs). In Lagos, it has some 500 ATM points, but only 138 points fewer are now dispensing cash. Whereas some N140m is needed for its ATM services, only N10m is available. Despite spirited denials…

Fashion designer Sophie Thealet has distanced herself from Melania Trump and advised her colleagues to do same just for what the American President-elect represents. A letter on her Twitter handle said that she was not here for Melania or what her husband represents. She therefore vowed never to dress Melana and or her associate because of the ideals that Melania’s husband stands for. The popular designer accused Donald Trump of racism, sexism and xenophobia traits he displaced during the electioneering. “As one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom, and respect for all lifestyles, I will not participate in…