Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the Secretary-General of the United Nations, United Nations, António Guterres, to report Nigeria’s worsening insecurity to the UN Security Council, citing escalating killings, abductions and a deepening humanitarian crisis across the country. SERAP made the call in an open letter dated May 30, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, urging Guterres to invoke Article 99 of the UN Charter to formally bring Nigeria’s situation before the global body. The organisation argued that the scale and persistence of violence in Nigeria now pose a threat to international peace and security, warning…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted consignments of high-potency illicit drugs ingeniously concealed in water purifier machines imported from Europe, as part of a series of coordinated operations across the country. The agency disclosed that the discovery was made on May 26, 2026, at a courier facility in Lagos, where officers uncovered no fewer than three kilogrammes of ketamine and 199 grammes of MDMA hidden inside the imported appliances shipped from the Netherlands. In a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the anti-narcotics agency described the seizure as a…

The Council of Fulani Chiefs in South-West Nigeria has distanced itself from individuals currently under investigation over alleged kidnapping activities in Ogun State, insisting that criminal acts should not be linked to the broader Fulani community. In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by the Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Bambado II, the council said it does not condone any form of criminality, including kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery. The traditional leaders stressed that the ongoing investigation by security agencies concerns specific individuals whose alleged actions must not be used to stigmatise the Fulani ethnic group or its…

The Super Eagles underlined their dominance on the international friendly circuit on Saturday night with a comprehensive 3–0 victory over the Jamaica national football team to retain the Unity Cup title at the Valley Stadium, London. The emphatic win ensured Nigeria successfully defended the trophy in style, replicating last season’s triumph and further cementing their status as the most successful side in the competition’s history with a fourth title since inception. Midfielder Alhassan Yusuf emerged the standout performer of the night, scoring twice to register his first goals in 10 appearances for the national team, while captain Terem Moffi also…

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has formally emerged as the presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) ahead of the 2027 general elections, pledging sweeping economic reforms, transparent governance and a citizen-focused leadership model if elected President of Nigeria. Makinde, who accepted the party’s nomination on Friday in Ibadan, said his decision to run was anchored on what he described as an urgent national duty to restore hope, rebuild public confidence in governance, and reposition Nigeria’s economy for productivity and fairness. He stressed that Nigeria’s vast natural and human resources should translate into improved living conditions for citizens,…

A wave of grief and tension has engulfed Ilesha-Baruba in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State after suspected gunmen killed a popular Islamic cleric, Alfa Iliasu, in a brutal attack on Saturday. The incident, which occurred at the cleric’s residence, has thrown the agrarian community into turmoil, sparking outrage, protests and retaliatory violence that left one of the suspected attackers lynched by an angry mob. Eyewitness accounts said the assailants stormed Alfa Iliasu’s home in the early hours of the day and attacked him with a cutlass, inflicting severe head injuries. The cleric was reportedly rushed to a…

Armed bandits operating in Zamfara State have killed a councillor representing Jangebe Ward, Habibu Jangebe, and the Director of Planning of Talata-Mafara Local Government Area, Alhaji Jamilu Sani, following allegations that the victims were involved in monthly payments to a terrorist group identified as Lakurawa. The two officials were abducted on May 18 while travelling from Jangebe to the local government headquarters reportedly for preparations ahead of the last pilgrimage exercise. Their bodies were later discovered 10 days after the abduction. A local source, who spoke in confidence due to security concerns, alleged that the slain officials had been used…

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Tanimu Turaki on Saturday declared former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, despite the sealing of its original convention venue in Abuja by security operatives. The faction had planned to hold its special national convention at the A-Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, but later relocated to its national secretariat in Area 10, Garki, after the venue was sealed earlier in the day. Former President Goodluck Jonathan was not present at the event, but his Certificate of Return was received on his behalf by…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed no fewer than 16 sachet water production facilities across Rivers State following the discovery of widespread safety and regulatory breaches. The enforcement exercise, which covered Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Degema and Ikwerre local government areas, exposed what the agency described as “alarming” violations ranging from lack of valid licences to unhygienic production conditions. In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday, the South-South Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Chukwuma Oligbu, said several of the affected factories were operating illegally and endangering public health. He listed the infractions to include…

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted a former Director of Defence Information, Rabe Abubakar, and his wife in Katsina State. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the incident occurred on Saturday along the Matazu axis of the state while the retired Major General and his wife were travelling to Katsina. Sources said the assailants intercepted their vehicle, forcefully whisking the couple to an unknown destination. A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the driver of the vehicle was also attacked during the ambush but managed to escape despite sustaining a gunshot injury. According to the source, the…