Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Nigerian Army has said its troops rescued 31 worshippers abducted during an Easter service in Kaduna State after engaging terrorists in a fierce gun battle. The Army disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that the victims were kidnapped when gunmen attacked an ECWA Church in Ariko Village, Kachia Local Government Area. According to the military, troops swiftly responded to a distress call and launched a pursuit operation, forcing the attackers to abandon the captives. “The pressure mounted by the advancing troops compelled the terrorists to abandon 31 hostages,” the statement said. It added that the rescue operation…

The Katsina State Police Command has arrested four suspects over a mob attack that resulted in the killing and burning of a man, identified as KC Joe, in Kokami village, Danja Local Government Area of the state. The police said the suspects are currently in custody as investigations into the violent incident continue. According to a statement on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Sadiq, the tragic episode followed a deadly altercation between the deceased and one Ibrahim Auwal, whom Joe allegedly stabbed to death during a dispute. The development reportedly triggered a reprisal attack by angry youths…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has claimed a massive surge in its membership, saying over 500,000 Nigerians joined the party within hours following the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delist the party’s leadership led by Senator David Mark and former minister, Rauf Aregbesola. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed this in a series of posts on his X handle, attributing the sudden spike in membership to heightened public interest triggered by the electoral commission’s announcement. According to Abdullahi, the party recorded over 40,000 new registrations within just 12 hours of INEC’s statement, which…

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that external interests are fuelling the crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that a factional leader within the party is enjoying unusual privileges suggestive of powerful backing. Atiku, who spoke in an interview with DW Hausa, said the internal wrangling within the ADC was being engineered by vested interests uncomfortable with the party’s growing popularity across the country. According to him, the development has not deterred Nigerians from identifying with the party, noting that new members continue to join from different parts of the federation. “People from all states are still…

President Bola Tinubu has approved a ₦3.3 trillion payment plan to clear longstanding debts in Nigeria’s power sector, in a move the Federal Government says is aimed at stabilising electricity supply and restoring investor confidence in the industry. The approval follows the conclusion of a comprehensive review under the Presidential Power Sector Financial Reforms Programme, which assessed outstanding liabilities accumulated over a decade, between February 2015 and March 2025. In a statement on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the Federal Government and key stakeholders had reached a “full and final settlement”…

There is growing tension in Plateau State following renewed allegations and counter-allegations over religious bias, insecurity, and selective justice in the handling of violent incidents across communities. A statement circulating on social media and attributed to a concerned group alleged that Muslims in the state were being unfairly treated and excluded from political and security structures, while also questioning official narratives around several violent incidents that have rocked parts of the state in recent years. The statement claimed that key political and administrative positions in the state are predominantly occupied by Christians, asserting that this imbalance has contributed to marginalisation…

Troops of the Nigerian military have killed no fewer than 65 bandits, including a son of wanted terror leader, Ado Allero, during a major coordinated offensive in Zamfara State. The operation, which combined ground forces with air support, was carried out in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state, targeting criminal enclaves linked to persistent attacks in the North-West. Security sources said the offensive led to the death of Kachalla Iliya Sarki, a notorious bandit commander and son of Ado Allero, alongside several other high-profile fighters. The assault reportedly took place in Munhaye village, behind Kunchin Kalgo, where troops engaged…

The Inspector-General of Police has directed officers captured in a viral stop-and-search video to report at the Force Headquarters, as part of ongoing disciplinary procedures aimed at addressing alleged misconduct. The directive, according to police authorities, underscores the renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to accountability, professionalism, and respect for citizens’ rights. Force spokesman, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the move reflects the leadership’s resolve to strengthen internal discipline and ensure that officers operate within established rules of engagement. He noted that the development followed public concerns generated by the viral video, stressing that such feedback continues to shape reforms…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a pastor and his wife for allegedly trafficking illicit drugs concealed in a vehicle along the Seme border corridor in Lagos State. The agency said it recovered 11 kilogrammes of skunk hidden in specially constructed compartments of a Honda Pilot SUV conveying the suspects. Spokesman for the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, identifying the suspects as Afolabi Hodonu, 45, a pastor with the Celestial Church of Christ, Agonvi Sea Beach, Badagry, and his wife, Success, 35. Babafemi said the couple was apprehended on April…

A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Tunde Lemo, on Saturday led a large mobilisation of supporters to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the commissioning of the Gateway International Cargo Airport in Ogun State, describing the project as a catalyst for economic growth and export expansion. The high-profile event, held in Abeokuta, drew dignitaries from across the country and showcased what observers described as Lemo’s growing grassroots influence and political alignment with the President ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking at the event, Lemo commended Tinubu for supporting the completion of the cargo airport, noting that…