Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Fresh security concerns have emerged as bandit groups displaced by intensified military operations in Nigeria’s North-West reportedly expand their activities into parts of Kano State while probing routes leading to the South-West. This was disclosed in a new security report by SBM Intelligence, which warned that the shifting pattern of attacks could widen the country’s insecurity map if not urgently contained. According to the report, which reviewed incidents between March 6 and 12, 2026, remnants of armed groups previously operating in Zamfara State and Katsina State have begun relocating to new areas, particularly around Rogo Local Government Area of Kano.…

No fewer than 17 motorists have been convicted for various traffic offences along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, as authorities intensify enforcement to curb reckless driving and improve road safety. The convictions were secured by the Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun State Command, during a mobile court sitting at Ogere axis of the busy highway. The command’s spokesperson, Odunsi Afolabi, disclosed in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Wednesday that all the offenders were arraigned and found guilty of different traffic-related infractions. According to him, the mobile court session, presided over by Magistrate O.S. Fadahunsi, saw the immediate conviction of the 17…

… Inmates To Learn Modern Farming Skills Across 18 Centres … Focus Shifts from Custody to Productivity and Human Development … Inmates Engaged In Crop Cultivation, Poultry, Fishery, Processing Daud Olatunji The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to convert Nigeria’s correctional centres from traditional detention facilities into productive food production and vocational training hubs. The initiative aims to equip inmates with modern agricultural skills and practical vocational expertise, while leveraging public-private partnerships (PPPs) to strengthen rehabilitation and societal reintegration. Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed the initiative on Wednesday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ roundtable on Optimising…

The federal government has revealed that more than 220 Nigerians are currently pursuing various academic programmes in the United Kingdom under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), while over 8,000 beneficiaries continue their studies across Nigeria. The disclosure was made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a meeting with PAP beneficiaries in the UK. The session was held on the sidelines of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Britain at the invitation of King Charles III. Also present was the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri. In a statement on Wednesday, Idris expressed satisfaction…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday returned N3.936 billion in recovered funds to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd), following investigations into alleged financial misconduct within the corporation. The handover, which took place at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, was conducted by EFCC Secretary, Mohammed Hammajoda, on behalf of the Commission’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede. Hammajoda described the recovered funds as the product of “meticulous investigations” and reiterated the agency’s commitment to pursuing financial crimes. “On behalf of the Executive Chairman, we will continue to serve over 220 million Nigerians with courage and integrity,” he said.…

Nigerian troops have recovered operational notebooks from slain fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province, exposing detailed planning structures, including attack coordination, weapons distribution and role assignments. The materials were reportedly retrieved during a military operation in Mallam Fatori, a known insurgency hotspot in Nigeria’s North-East. According to findings cited by security analyst Brant Philip, the documents contained names of fighters mobilised for specific العمليات, alongside clearly defined responsibilities, weapons issued and ammunition allocated for each operative. The development highlights what analysts describe as a high level of organisational sophistication within the terrorist group, mirroring structures seen in other…

The Oyo State Police Command on Wednesday confirmed the rescue of two abducted cocoa farmers and the arrest of three suspects following a kidnapping incident at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Idi-Ayunre, Ibadan. The command disclosed that the attack occurred at about 12:23 p.m. on March 18, 2026, when gunmen struck at the institute’s nursery site. According to the police, the victims—members of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter—were at the facility to submit their annual cocoa seedlings for the 2026 planting season when they were ambushed by armed assailants. Spokesperson for the command said a…

Nigerian troops have recorded a major breakthrough in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign, killing two top commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province and 84 fighters during a coordinated ambush in the Malam Fatori axis of Borno State. The operation, which followed credible intelligence on insurgents’ movements, came barely 24 hours after multiple suicide attacks rocked Maiduguri during Ramadan prayers. Military sources described the offensive as a “highly successful” mission that combined deception tactics, precision airstrikes and ground assaults to neutralise the террористs. According to intelligence sources, troops adopted a decoy ambush strategy—deliberately simulating vulnerability to lure the insurgents into…

The Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide has resumed its 2026 anointment exercise at its international headquarters, the Holy Land, Celestial City, Imeko in Ogun State. The exercise, which commenced on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, is scheduled to run until Friday, March 27, after which a short break will be observed for the Easter celebration. According to the church, the programme will resume in the second week of April, immediately after the Easter festivities. The anointment exercise is being conducted by the spiritual head of the church, His Eminence, Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa. In a statement issued by the church’s spokesman,…

The Rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Arc. Dr. Babatunde Adekoyejo Jolaoso, has cautioned newly admitted students of the institution to shun cultism, examination malpractice, drug abuse and other social vices capable of jeopardising their academic future. Jolaoso gave the warning on Wednesday during the 2025/2026 matriculation ceremony of the institution in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he formally admitted fresh students into the polytechnic. Describing matriculation as more than a ceremonial exercise, the rector said it marked a “solemn academic tradition” that binds students to the rules and values of the institution. “Matriculation is more than a ceremonial exercise. It is…