Author: Platform Times Newspaper

… Three Northern Regions Record Two-Thirds Of All Reported Deaths Nationwide … Ogun Emerges As SW Accident Hotspot As Expressway Crashes Persist Fawas Adebisi In Nigeria today, the risk of dying violently depends largely on where you live. In some parts of the country, death comes from gunshots and raids; in others, it arrives suddenly on highways packed with speeding vehicles and failing infrastructure. Though the threats differ, the outcome is the same, families shattered, livelihoods cut short, and communities left to absorb yet another loss. An analysis of 2025 data from Nigeria Watch, a national database that documents incidents…

By Olanrewaju Waheed Dr. Bosun Tijani stands out as one of the few contemporary leaders whose personal story genuinely reflects the diversity, depth, and shared identity of Ogun State. In a time when leadership is often measured by rhetoric, his life presents a more compelling metric: lived connection, service, and quiet excellence across communities that make up the Gateway State. Born into a heritage that cuts across Ogun’s three senatorial districts, Dr. Tijani’s roots symbolise unity rather than division. His father hails from Ilu Ata in Ilaro, grounding him in Yewa land, while his family has longstanding ties in Itoko…

The Nigeria Police Force has declined to disclose details of the United States’ airstrikes against terrorist targets in Sokoto State, describing the operation as a sensitive defence matter beyond public commentary. The Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, made this known on Tuesday during Channels Television’s Politics Today, saying the police were privy to intelligence surrounding the December 25, 2025 strikes but would not release such information. Hundeyin explained that while the police engage extensively in intelligence gathering and sharing, operational specifics of the US-led strikes would remain confidential. “As the Police Force, we know certain things about the strikes,…

A self-acclaimed marabout, who allegedly collected about €33,500 (over 22 million CFA francs) from supporters after promising to secure Mali’s victory at the Africa Cup of Nations, has been arrested for fraud following the country’s exit from the tournament. The suspect, identified as Sinayogo, was taken into custody in Bamako on Saturday, a day after Mali were eliminated from the competition following a 1–0 defeat to Senegal in the quarter-finals. Anger reportedly erupted among fans shortly after the loss, with several contributors accusing the marabout of deception. An associate of the suspect disclosed that Sinayogo had received donations running into…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Monday arraigned Amadu Sule, Managing Director of TMDK Terminal Limited and a known associate of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, over an alleged ₦311 billion money laundering scheme. Sule appeared before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on a five-count charge, including money laundering and unlawful retention of proceeds of fraud, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The ICPC alleged that Sule exercised control over funds traced to multiple bank accounts with three commercial banks, with the money originating from companies including INT Towers…

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, and the Olowu of Owu, Prof. Saka Adelola Matemilola, have endorsed the initiatives of the Egba Economic Summit (EES) in establishing a committee to develop a new Abeokuta Master Plan covering the six local governments of Ogun Central Senatorial District: Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Ewekoro, Odeda, Obafemi Owode, and Ifo. The committee, chaired by Captain Temilola Okesanjo, a foundation member of the summit, comprises seasoned professionals with proven track records in their respective fields, including Prof. Oyesiku, Alhaji Waheed Kadiri, Engr. Bayo Adeola, and Dr. Gbenga Adeoye, President of…

Renowned Fuji musician Saheed Osupa has publicly rejected a controversial prophecy predicting his death, describing the cleric behind it as a “fake alpha and prophet.” The controversy began after a Nigerian Muslim cleric, known as Alpha Olopa Meta, allegedly foretold that Osupa would die on January 10, 2026. The cleric reportedly claimed he had spiritually intervened on Osupa’s behalf and advised the singer to purchase a large ram for special prayers to avert the predicted death. The prophecy quickly sparked a heated debate on social media, with fans, colleagues, and online commentators condemning what many described as fear-mongering and irresponsible…

No fewer than 10 Nigerians are among 34 suspected members of the notorious Black Axe confraternity arrested in a sweeping joint operation by Spanish and German security agencies, with the backing of Europol. The arrests followed a coordinated crackdown led by the Spanish National Police in collaboration with the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office, targeting what investigators described as the “core leadership” of the transnational criminal network operating across Europe. Police said 28 suspects were arrested in Seville, three in Madrid, two in Málaga and one in Barcelona during simultaneous raids carried out across multiple locations. Authorities disclosed that the…

In a dramatic volte-face that has reshaped Kano’s political landscape, a former governor of the state and national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has endorsed the planned defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and other elected officials from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Kwankwaso announced his decision in a short video message released on Tuesday by his media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, bringing to an abrupt end weeks of public tension and uncertainty within the Kano chapter of the NNPP. The endorsement marks a sharp reversal of Kwankwaso’s earlier hardline stance. He…

The Federal Government, 36 states and 774 local government councils shared a record ₦6tn from the Federation Account in the third quarter of 2025, the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative has said. NEITI disclosed this in its Quarterly Review of the Federation Account Allocation Committee disbursements, describing the figure as the highest quarterly allocation in Nigeria’s fiscal history. The amount included payments of 13 per cent derivation to oil-producing states. According to the report, total FAAC allocations in Q3 2025 rose by 55.6 per cent year-on-year compared with the same period in 2024, marking a dramatic surge that has more…