Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A businessman and an Islamic cleric abducted by suspected bandits in Kwara State have regained their freedom after spending several days in captivity, ending an ordeal that sparked anxiety in their community. The victims were kidnapped during a recent attack on Eggi Oyo-Ipo (Eggipo) Community in Irepodun Local Government Area, where the gunmen reportedly demanded a total ransom of N65 million for their release. The abductors had allegedly demanded N50 million for the businessman and N15 million for the Islamic cleric. Their release was confirmed on Sunday by the Coordinator of the community, Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, who disclosed that the…

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, has alleged that foreign interests are fueling Nigeria’s protracted insecurity, claiming that cross-border terrorists and some external actors have continued to frustrate efforts to restore peace across the country. Bwala made the assertion on Sunday during an interview on The Link Up Podcast hosted by Echoo Room, where he argued that the security crisis confronting Nigeria extends beyond domestic factors. According to him, terrorist groups operating in the Sahel region frequently infiltrate Nigeria through its porous borders, launch attacks on communities and retreat to neighbouring countries, making military…

By Lekan Aderibigbe We are living in a time where shame has lost its meaning. And honestly, it’s becoming dangerous especially in this social media era. There was a time when women saw their bodies as sacred. A time when dignity, modesty, and privacy were not considered “old-fashioned”, but values. Today, that idea feels like it’s gone into extinction. It’s disturbing how much of a woman’s private life is now public content. Bodies, bedrooms, and personal moments are turned into clout, likes, and transactions. What used to be kept sacred is now being sold for views. People keep saying “the…

Ayomide Awe The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has accused governors across Nigeria of diverting local government allocations, declaring that he would grant full financial autonomy to local councils if elected in the 2027 governorship election. Adebutu made the allegation on Sunday during a meeting with the Egba Traditional Council at the Ake Palace in Abeokuta, where he sought the support and blessings of traditional rulers for his governorship ambition. The PDP standard-bearer, who was accompanied by his running mate, Dr. Lateefat Sowunmi-Kolapo, the party’s Ogun Central Senatorial candidate, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, Ogun…

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, on Sunday endorsed the governorship ambition of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, describing him as a “trustworthy and reliable” leader capable of governing Ogun State. The monarch gave the endorsement at the Ake Palace, Abeokuta, while receiving Adebutu and other leaders of the PDP during a visit to the Egba Traditional Council to seek royal blessings ahead of the 2027 governorship election. Adebutu was accompanied by his running mate, Dr. Lateefat Sowunmi-Kolapo; the party’s Ogun Central Senatorial candidate, Iyabo Obasanjo; Ogun PDP Chairman, Abayomi Tella; and other…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the National Assembly to immediately withdraw the Nigeria Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026, warning that it could amount to a backdoor attempt to regulate social media and restrict online freedom of expression. The rights advocacy organisation also threatened to challenge the proposed legislation in court if it is passed in its current form. In a letter dated July 18, 2026, addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, SERAP argued that the bill grants excessive powers to regulators and poses serious risks to Nigerians’ constitutional…

A new report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has revealed that prison overcrowding remains one of Africa’s most pressing criminal justice challenges, with about 93 per cent of countries on the continent operating correctional facilities beyond their designed capacity. The findings, contained in the Prison Matters 2026 report, show that Africa has one of the world’s worst prison congestion rates, raising concerns over deteriorating living conditions, poor healthcare, violence and the spread of infectious diseases among inmates. The report, which analysed prison capacity data from 183 countries between 2015 and 2024, found that nearly two-thirds of…

Daud Olatunji An undisclosed number of students were killed after suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched a midnight attack on a students’ hostel in Monguno, Borno State, in a failed attempt to abduct occupants of the facility. The Nigerian military said, however, that troops of Operation HADIN KAI, supported by personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force, repelled the attackers and successfully rescued all 46 students in the hostel. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Monguno, which is currently being used by the Borno State Government…

… Agency Nabs Chadian Woman, Couple, Truck Drivers In Nationwide Anti-Drug Operations Daud Olatunji The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking across the country, arresting an 80-year-old alleged drug dealer, dismantling suspected drug warehouses and intercepting more than 1.63 million tramadol pills linked to a transnational trafficking syndicate operating across Togo, the Benin Republic and Nigeria. The agency said the operations, carried out in Rivers, Edo, Lagos, Kogi and at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, led to the arrest of several suspects, including a Chadian national, a couple allegedly operating an illicit drug…

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association after securing a decisive victory in the association’s national election conducted electronically. Badejo-Okusanya polled 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast, to defeat her closest challenger, Mr. Lateef Akangbe (SAN), who garnered 7,934 votes, while Mr. Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN) came third with 5,855 votes. The results were announced in the early hours of Sunday at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Aham Ejelam (SAN), following the…