Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The United Premier Movement has commended the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, for facilitating Federal Government approval for the rehabilitation of the long-abandoned Muda Lawal Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The group said Olopade played a pivotal role in drawing government attention to the deteriorating state of the historic stadium, leading to plans for its upgrade and modernisation. In a statement signed by its Convener, Chief Olalekan Shoyinka, and made available through its Assistant Secretary, Sheriff Adenekan, UPM described the development as a major milestone in efforts to revive sports infrastructure in Ogun State. The movement noted…

The Nigerian Union of Teachers has warned of a possible nationwide strike if the Oyo State Government enforces a “no work, no pay” policy on teachers protesting the abduction of their colleagues and pupils in Oyo State. The National President of the union, Titus Amba, also urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to secure the safe rescue of all victims and put in place measures to prevent a recurrence. PLATFORM TIMES reports that more than 40 pupils and teachers, including a toddler, were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, when gunmen attacked three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area,…

By IBRAHIM BARKINDO CHUBADO The killing of four suspected kidnappers during a security operation in Lagos State has sparked conversations about insecurity, ethnicity, and public reactions to crime in Nigeria. According to accounts circulating on social media, the suspects were allegedly involved in kidnapping activities that have worsened the insecurity pattern in the nation’s situation in recent times and were reportedly killed during a confrontation with security operatives. Reports also indicate that a police officer lost his life during the operation. The gang leader was identified as Ifeanyi, popularly known as “Ifeko,” and claimed he had been linked to previous…

The Federal Government has abolished the long-standing practice of placing civil servants on mandatory pre-retirement leave, declaring that such a provision does not exist under the Public Service Rules. The directive, issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, orders all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to immediately discontinue the widely adopted three-month terminal leave for officers approaching retirement. In a circular titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” the government clarified that the three-month period before retirement is strictly a notice window—not an entitlement to leave. Walson-Jack said the misinterpretation by…

The Central Bank of Nigeria has unveiled an ambitious plan to mop up about N2.83tn currently held outside the formal banking system, as part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s payment ecosystem ahead of the 2027 general elections. The initiative, announced on Monday in Abuja by the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, forms a key component of the Nigeria Payments System Vision 2028, a strategic roadmap designed to deepen financial inclusion, reduce cash dependence, and position Nigeria as a leading payments hub in Africa. The move comes amid growing concerns over cash-driven political activities, including vote-buying, as the Independent National…

…Links Oyo Abduction To Long-Running National Security Breakdown Assures Nigerians of “Final Defeat” of Criminal Network The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said President Bola Tinubu inherited a long-standing and deeply entrenched kidnapping crisis, insisting that Nigeria’s current security challenges, including school abductions, predate the present administration by more than two decades. Ribadu stated this on Sunday during a federal government delegation’s visit to Oyo State following the abduction of 46 schoolchildren and staff from a school in the state, an incident that has once again heightened national concern over school safety. The NSA said the Oyo…

Despite the conclusion of primary elections across major political parties, uncertainty has continued to trail the fate of thousands of aspirants as national secretariats insist that final authority to ratify and announce candidates rests with their respective national leaderships. Findings indicate that although governorship, National Assembly and state assembly primaries have been held in several states, no party has issued final Certificates of Return, with national headquarters of parties still reviewing reports from state-level electoral panels and appeal committees. The development has left aspirants in suspense ahead of the 2027 general elections scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),…

Two serving police officers attached to the Police Mobile Force in Lagos State narrowly escaped being lynched on Monday after they were mistakenly identified as kidnappers by residents of Kanuyi community in Simawa, Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State. The incident, which triggered panic and viral circulation of videos on social media, saw the officers briefly detained by an angry mob before operatives of the Ogun State Police Command intervened and rescued them. Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the officers were on official duty when they got lost while…

A joint air operation involving United States and Nigerian forces has reportedly killed three senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Lake Chad Basin, further weakening the group’s command structure following the earlier elimination of its leader, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. Security and intelligence sources confirmed that the latest strikes targeted key operational figures identified as Abu Huraira, Ba Yuram, and Mallam Haruna, all described as lieutenants within the inner circle of the insurgent network. The commanders were reportedly killed in coordinated precision airstrikes supported by battle damage assessments and multiple intelligence confirmations, according to counter-insurgency publication…

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a pastor and a woman for allegedly circulating a false alarm claiming that armed bandits invaded Lamini Community in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State and killed six residents—an incident the police say never occurred. The suspects, identified as Pastor Amos Joel Muyiwa and one Mulikat Bashiru, were accused of originating and spreading a viral voice note that triggered widespread panic, heightened tension, and renewed fears of insecurity across affected communities. Police authorities said the false report, which rapidly circulated on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, falsely alleged a deadly invasion…