Nigerian Chronicles

  Bandits Invade Niger Mosques During Friday Prayers, Abduct Worshippers Armed bandits reportedly invaded mosques in Niger State during Friday prayers and abducted worshippers in an attack that allegedly occurred with little resistance. According to Arise News correspondent Charles Erukaa, who reported from New Bussa on Friday, August 28, 2026, the incident occurred in Kagara community, located in Borgu Local Government Area of the state. Erukaa said the remote location of the community and its surrounding forested terrain have made access and security operations particularly difficult. He noted that about 188 kilometres of the journey remained through an area considered challenging to secure. The exact number of people abducted in the attack has not been independently established. Reports circulating about the incident have given widely different estimates, ranging from about 60 victims to as many as 600. A video allegedly released by the abductors also appears to show a large gro...

Kwara Abduction: Baale’s Son Recounts How Mother Was Taken From Her Home The son of the Baale of Dabu community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Abiodun Shehu, has narrated how his mother was allegedly abducted from her residence by suspected bandits. Shehu, speaking during an interview with News Central TV, said the incident occurred on Friday, August 21, 2026, when the attackers reportedly broke into the home of his mother, known as Iya Ayoka. He said his mother was taken away during the operation, which reportedly occurred without any gunshots. According to Shehu, a young girl who was sleeping with his mother at the time later gave the family an account of what she witnessed. The girl reportedly told the family that six people took part in the operation. She was said to have described four of them as young children, while the other two were adults. “She said there were six of them that came, four were small children and two were adults. They did not shoot,” Shehu sa...

  Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Criticise Meta Over £13bn Child Harm Settlement Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have criticised Meta’s decision to settle a major child harm lawsuit for up to £13 billion, arguing that the agreement allows the technology giant to avoid a court verdict that could have resulted in more significant institutional changes. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who recently returned to the United Kingdom after spending six years in the United States, expressed their concerns in a public statement addressing the settlement involving Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. Harry and Meghan accused Meta of operating a “data-extraction business model” and questioned the absence of an apology as part of the settlement agreement. The couple also argued that Meta has sufficient financial resources to absorb the settlement, pointing to estimates that the company could recover an equivalent amount through profits within a relatively short period. According to...

  VeryDarkMan’s Appearance as NBA Conference Panelist Sparks Mixed Reactions Social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has sparked mixed reactions following his inclusion as a panelist at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt. According to the official conference programme, VeryDarkMan was listed as a participant in the Day Five plenary session titled “Known Gun Men.” The session was scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. His inclusion in the programme generated reactions among lawyers and other users on X, formerly known as Twitter. While some questioned the decision to feature the social media personality at a major gathering of legal professionals, others defended his participation. The reactions largely centred on whether VeryDarkMan's public profile and advocacy activities made him an appropriate participant at the conference. VeryDarkMan has built a si...

 Nigerian Woman Cries Out After Allegedly Losing Years of Savings From Access Bank Account A Nigerian woman has cried out for help after allegedly discovering that her savings had been withdrawn from her Access Bank account while she was living and working in Dubai. According to a report published on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, the woman said she had been saving money in the account since 2022 and expected to have accumulated several million naira. She claimed that after returning to Nigeria, she visited her bank to check her account and was shocked to discover that the money was no longer there. In an emotional appeal, she alleged that she could not find even ₦1,000 in the account despite years of saving. «“They’ve taken my money, all my savings from 2022.”» She further alleged that she was informed that her SIM card had been reassigned to another person and that withdrawals of ₦20,000 had allegedly been made repeatedly from the account since 2024. The woman said she had been outs...

 Omaha Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison After Using ChatGPT to Plan Bank Robbery A 23-year-old man from Omaha, Nebraska, Deron Lewis-Payne, has been sentenced to 121 months — 10 years and one month — in federal prison for robbing a bank while armed with a firearm. Lewis-Payne was sentenced on August 13, 2026, after pleading guilty to bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska. The case attracted widespread attention after investigators discovered that Lewis-Payne had used ChatGPT while preparing for the robbery. How the Robbery Happened According to federal prosecutors, Lewis-Payne entered an i3Bank branch at 15645 Spaulding Street in Omaha on February 10, 2026, while carrying a handgun. He pointed the weapon at bank employees and threatened them before demanding money. The employees complied, and Lewis-Payne fled with approximately $9,175 in cash. Surveillance cameras captured his uncov...

  Premier League Matchweek 2: Full Fixtures, Key News and What to Watch This Weekend The 2026/27 Premier League season moves into Matchweek 2 this weekend, with 10 matches scheduled from Friday, August 28, through Monday, August 31. The opening weekend produced several surprises, including Hull City's 2-0 victory over Manchester United, Brentford's 3-0 win against Tottenham and Liverpool's dramatic 2-2 draw with Newcastle. Here is a look at every Matchweek 2 fixture and the major storylines surrounding each game. Crystal Palace vs Manchester City Friday, August 28 Manchester City travel to Selhurst Park looking to build on their dramatic opening-day victory over Bournemouth. City came from behind to win 2-1, with Josko Gvardiol scoring the late winner. New manager Enzo Maresca will now face another test as he begins life after Pep Guardiola. Crystal Palace will be hoping to take advantage of home support and cause another early-season surprise. Key storyline: Can Maresca...

  Real Madrid Beat Espanyol 2–1 in Mourinho’s LaLiga Return Real Madrid began their 2026/27 LaLiga campaign with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday, August 22. The victory marked a winning return to competitive football for José Mourinho, who is back in charge of Real Madrid and looking to guide the Spanish giants back to domestic and European success. Real Madrid started brightly and took the lead through Jude Bellingham, who headed home an Arda Güler free-kick to put the visitors 1–0 ahead. Espanyol responded strongly and restored parity before the break, leaving the two sides level at 1–1 at half-time. Madrid continued to control much of the second half but struggled to turn their possession into clear chances. Federico Valverde came close to restoring the lead when his effort struck the post as Espanyol defended deep and looked determined to secure a point. However, Real Madrid eventually found the breakthrough late in the game when Carlos E...

 Wizkid Teases Fans With New Album: ‘I Can’t Wait to Share’ Nigerian music superstar Wizkid has sparked excitement among fans after teasing what appears to be his next musical project. The Grammy-winning singer took to X on Saturday, August 22, 2026, to share a short message about his ongoing work in the studio. “Having so much fun making this next one! I can’t wait to share,” Wizkid wrote, adding the hashtag #album alongside prayer, heart and bird emojis. The post was made from his verified X account, @wizkidayo, at about 7:31 p.m. Nigerian time and had already attracted more than 453,000 views, thousands of reposts and likes shortly after it was published. Although Wizkid did not reveal the title of the project or announce an official release date, his reference to “this next one” and the #album hashtag strongly suggests that he is working on a new album. The announcement has already generated excitement among fans, who are eagerly waiting to hear what the Afrobeats star has been...

 Hull City Shock Manchester United 2-0 in Premier League Opener Newly promoted Hull City produced a stunning upset on Saturday, defeating Manchester United 2-0 in their opening match of the 2026/27 Premier League season at the MKM Stadium. Manchester United, under manager Michael Carrick, struggled to cope with Hull's intensity and set-piece threat as the hosts secured a memorable victory on their return to the top flight after a nine-year absence. Hull took the lead in the 17th minute when Nigerian defender Semi Ajayi reacted quickest after Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens had saved an effort from Oli McBurnie following a corner. The Tigers doubled their advantage in the 38th minute when Nobel Mendy rose to head home from a Regan Slater free-kick, leaving United with a mountain to climb before half-time. United improved after the break and enjoyed more possession, with Carrick making changes in an attempt to get his side back into the game. However, Hull remained discipl...

  VeryDarkMan Says His Team Recovered ₦51 Million in One Month as He Responds to Critics Controversial Nigerian social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has responded to criticism from those who accuse him of becoming distracted and no longer speaking out against individuals allegedly involved in fraudulent activities. In a recent statement, VeryDarkMan reportedly claimed that his team recovered ₦51 million within one month, highlighting the financial assistance and interventions he said they had carried out. The activist made the remark while responding to critics who questioned his recent activities and suggested that he had shifted attention away from issues involving alleged fraud and wrongdoing. VeryDarkMan has built a reputation for publicly confronting individuals and businesses over allegations of misconduct, often using his social media platforms to draw attention to disputes and seek resolutions. His latest comments have generated reacti...

  Obi Cubana Reveals Family History of Not Living Beyond 80 Nigerian businessman and socialite Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, has opened up about a painful family history that influenced the way he celebrated his late mother before her death. Cubana made the revelation during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, explaining why his family had hoped his mother would live beyond the age of 80. According to the businessman, no one in his immediate family had reached 80 years. He said his father died at 66, his grandmother at 75, while his grandfather died at 78. He explained that the family hoped his mother would break what they perceived as a recurring pattern. «“In my family, nobody has lived up to 80,” Cubana said.» He said he and his siblings regularly celebrated their mother’s birthdays and had begun making plans for her 80th birthday. However, their plans changed after she died before reaching the milestone. Cubana's mother, Uche Iyiegbu, died in De...

 Four People Publicly Caned 100 Times for Adultery in Indonesia’s Aceh Four people — two men and two women — have been publicly caned 100 times each after being convicted of adultery in Indonesia’s Aceh province, where a strict Islamic criminal code is enforced. The punishment was carried out at Bustanul Salatin Park in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, as part of a public enforcement of Aceh’s Sharia regulations. According to reports, the four individuals were convicted of zina, referring to sexual relations outside marriage under Aceh’s Islamic criminal code. The punishment was witnessed by members of the public, with the proceedings reportedly drawing a large crowd. One particularly emotional moment occurred when a woman appeared to struggle during the punishment. The masked flogger, known locally as an algojo, was seen leaning towards her and apparently offering words of encouragement as she endured the caning. Officials also assisted some of those punished after the proceedi...

Tennessee Pastor Sentenced to Life Without Parole After Child Rape Convictions A Tennessee pastor has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of multiple child sexual abuse offenses involving a young girl. Benjamin Garlick, 35, was found guilty of seven counts of aggravated rape of a child, six counts of aggravated sexual battery, solicitation of sexual exploitation of a minor and other child protection violations following a two-week trial in Rutherford County, Tennessee. According to the Murfreesboro Police Department, Circuit Court Judge Barry Tidwell sentenced Garlick to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole on the aggravated child rape convictions. He is scheduled to return to court on November 10 for sentencing on his remaining convictions. The investigation began in August 2023 after authorities received allegations concerning the sexual abuse of a child who was five years old at the time. Investigators later identif...

  Mary J. Blige Says She Sometimes Regrets Not Having Children R&B icon Mary J. Blige has opened up about a decision she made earlier in life — choosing not to have children — saying she sometimes wonders what life would have been like if she had become a mother. Blige previously explained that she chose not to have children because she valued her freedom and did not want the responsibilities that came with raising a child. In a 2022 interview with E!’s Daily Pop, she said watching her relatives struggle to find babysitters reinforced her decision. At the time, the Grammy-winning singer said she enjoyed being able to move freely and make decisions without having to constantly care for another person. However, in remarks now circulating online, Blige appears to be reflecting differently as she gets older. She reportedly said that seeing the bond between relatives and their teenage children has sometimes made her regret not having children of her own. The comments have sparked fr...

  Wike: Tinubu Would Have Won Osun Election If He Wanted It ‘At All Costs’ Former Rivers State Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could have taken a more active role in the Osun State governorship election if he had been determined to win the poll at all costs. Wike made the remark while discussing the political dynamics surrounding the election, suggesting that Tinubu’s involvement could have significantly altered the outcome. According to Wike, if the President had wanted to ensure victory in Osun State by all means, he would have personally become involved in the political process. «“If the president had wanted to win the Osun State election at all costs, I would be involved, and I would have been there, and Governor Adeleke would have known that it would have been different.”» The statement appeared to underline Wike’s view that the level of federal involvement in the election could have had a major im...

  US Judge Gives Jeanine Pirro Four More Days to Comply With Tinubu Records Order A United States federal judge has reportedly given U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro four additional days to comply with a court order concerning records related to an earlier U.S. investigation involving Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to a report attributed to Dr. Von Batten-Montague-York, Judge Beryl A. Howell granted Pirro only four extra days after prosecutors reportedly sought a 10-day extension. The reported new deadline is August 21, 2026. The development concerns a long-running Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case seeking records held by U.S. federal agencies in connection with an investigation involving Tinubu and other individuals. The case dates back more than three years. In April 2025, Judge Howell ruled that the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) could no longer rely on so-called “Glomar” responses to refuse to confirm or deny the exis...

  Mark Zuckerberg Unveils Vision for AI Superintelligence, Says Future Should Be for Everyone Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled an ambitious vision for the future of artificial intelligence, arguing that advanced “personal superintelligence” should be made widely accessible rather than controlled by a small number of corporations or governments. In a roughly 6,500-word manifesto titled “The Future is for Everyone: The Path to a Positive AI Future,” published on August 10, 2026, Zuckerberg outlined how he believes increasingly powerful AI systems could transform education, creativity, entrepreneurship, scientific research and everyday life. Zuckerberg's Vision for Personal Superintelligence At the centre of Zuckerberg’s argument is the idea that individuals should eventually have access to highly capable personal AI agents that can work continuously on their behalf. He envisions these systems helping people pursue their goals, learn new skills, create businesses and content, con...

  Voyager CEO Predicts Humans Could Be Living and Working on the Moon by the Early 2030s Humans could be living and working on the Moon within the next decade, according to Voyager Technologies Chairman and CEO Dylan Taylor. Taylor said the development of a permanent lunar presence could move rapidly during the 2030s, with an early Moon base potentially becoming a reality as lunar exploration and commercial space infrastructure continue to advance. “Humans will definitely be living and working in space,” Taylor told Fortune, according to the report shared by Phoenix. He predicted that the Moon would be the next major step, saying a lunar base could emerge in the early 2030s. “We’ll have a moon base, people living and working on the moon,” Taylor said. His prediction comes as Voyager expands its involvement in lunar infrastructure. In June 2026, the company completed its acquisition of Astrobotic Technology, a move it said would strengthen its ability to support a sustained American...

 Families Announce Burial Arrangements for Lovers Who Died in Anambra Hostel Collapse Families have announced burial arrangements for a young couple who lost their lives when a hostel building collapsed in Amaokpala, near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The victims were identified as 29-year-old Vivian Chinedu Akabuike and her boyfriend, 32-year-old Ifeanyi Stanley Nwachukwu, popularly known as Don Cash. Their bodies were recovered from the rubble of the collapsed Elite 5-Star Hostel, a building reportedly containing about 60 rooms. The structure caved in on the night of Sunday, July 26, 2026. Reports at the time confirmed that two people, a male and female, died in the collapse. Vivian was a baker and an alumna of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, while Ifeanyi was described as a Moniepoint POS machine distributor and NYSC member. The couple were said to have been working hard and making plans for a better future together. Accordin...

 Nigerian, South African Lawmakers Clash Over Xenophobia at CPA Conference A diplomatic disagreement erupted between Nigerian and South African lawmakers during the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference in Lilongwe, Malawi, after delegates disagreed over how violence targeting foreign nationals should be described and addressed. The dispute centred on the use of the term “xenophobia” to describe attacks and hostility directed at foreign nationals in South Africa. Nigerian lawmakers argued that violence against people because they are foreigners should be recognised and addressed as xenophobic violence. They maintained that the issue should not be reduced solely to questions surrounding immigration status or border control. South African lawmakers, however, challenged that position, arguing that discussions about violence involving foreign nationals should also take into account issues surrounding undocumented migration, immigration enforcement and co...

  Jason Arday, Youngest Black Cambridge Professor, Found Dead at 41 British-born Ghanaian academic, Professor Jason Atta Kwei Arday, who made history as the youngest Black professor at the University of Cambridge, has died at the age of 41. Arday was found unresponsive at a property in Battersea, south London, on Friday, August 14, 2026, and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to reports. The Metropolitan Police said his death was unexpected but is not currently being treated as suspicious. Born in London in 1985 to Ghanaian parents, Arday rose to prominence in British academia after overcoming significant challenges in his early life. He joined the University of Cambridge in 2023 at the age of 37, becoming the institution’s youngest-ever Black professor. His academic work focused largely on race, inequality, education and neurodiversity. Before joining Cambridge, he held academic positions at institutions including the University of Glasgow, Durham University and the Unive...

  Sowore Alleges DSS Ordered Prison Officials to Put Him in Uncomfortable Section at Kuje Prison African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has alleged that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) instructed officials at Kuje Prison in Abuja to place him in an uncomfortable section of the facility. Sowore made the allegation while speaking about his experience at the correctional facility, claiming that the instruction was intended to make his stay more difficult. The AAC presidential candidate did not provide further details about the specific conditions he described as uncomfortable or identify the DSS officials allegedly involved. The allegation comes amid Sowore’s continued criticism of Nigeria’s security agencies and the government over issues relating to his arrests and detention. However, the claims remain allegations, and there has been no independent confirmation of the alleged instruction by DSS operatives. Related Article  Donal...

  New York Man Allegedly Kills Parents After They Spent $10,000 to Bail Him Out of Jail, Then Dies by Suicide A New York man facing multiple violent criminal charges allegedly killed his parents after they spent about $10,000 to secure his release from jail, before taking his own life, police said. According to authorities, the man had recently been released after his parents paid the bail connected to the charges against him. Investigators said the couple were later found dead, with police linking their deaths to their son. The suspect subsequently died by suicide, bringing the tragic incident to a devastating end. The case has shocked the local community, particularly because the parents had reportedly spent thousands of dollars to help their son get out of jail. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killings, including what may have led to the alleged attack. Authorities have not disclosed further details about a possible motive, and the investig...

  Emmanuel Onwudi Recounts Seven-Day Ordeal After Being Abducted During Church Service in Enugu Emmanuel Onwudi, a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Inoyi, Affa, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, has recounted his seven-day ordeal after he was abducted during a Sunday church service on August 2, 2026. Onwudi was reportedly taken away while attending the service, leaving his family and fellow worshippers deeply concerned about his whereabouts. According to his account, the seven days in captivity were a difficult and frightening experience as he remained separated from his family and loved ones. His account has drawn attention to the growing concerns over insecurity and abductions in parts of the South-East, where residents and communities continue to call for stronger security measures. The circumstances surrounding his release and the identities of those responsible for the abduction were not independently verified at the time of publication. The incident has also re...