Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arraigned an alleged drug kingpin, Anochili Innocent, alongside three Mexican nationals and seven other suspects before the Federal High Court in Lagos over the alleged operation of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory valued at more than N480bn. The defendants were arraigned before Justice Musa Kakaki on Friday on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful production and possession of methamphetamine, operation of a drug trafficking organisation, and unlawful possession of precursor chemicals. The Mexican nationals charged are Juan Carlos Meza Torrero, 49; Nemecio Martinez Felix, 46; and Jesus López Valles, 40. The other defendants…

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Friday said the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area occurred barely hours after he declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election. Makinde made the remark while addressing leaders of the Allied Peoples Movement and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed in Bauchi, where he reflected on the May 15 attack, saying Oyo State had not witnessed a similar incident throughout his seven years in office. According to the governor, the timing of the kidnapping remains striking. “For seven years, we didn’t witness anything like this in Oyo State. I…

The Presidency has disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers involved in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been arrested, while several others were killed during a rescue operation that ended the victims’ 56-day captivity. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the development on Friday, saying the suspects were currently in the custody of the Department of State Services. The latest disclosure came hours after the Presidency confirmed the successful rescue of all the abducted pupils and teachers who were seized by gunmen during coordinated attacks…

The pupils and teachers abducted by gunmen from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom after spending nearly two months in captivity. The development was confirmed on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. In a post on his verified X handle, Onanuga announced that security agencies had successfully secured the victims’ release. “Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” he wrote. As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Government and security agencies…

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a kidnapping network for allegedly aiding the abduction of three persons in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state. The suspects, identified as Sauni Shehu and Auwalu Bala, were arrested following intelligence-led investigations that linked them to the kidnap of three victims at Ogele Fulani Camp, via Igbaja, in Ifelodun LGA. The command’s spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Ilorin, saying the arrests formed part of ongoing efforts to dismantle kidnapping syndicates operating in the state. She said police operatives tracked down…

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has warned that anyone caught vandalising critical national assets risks up to 25 years imprisonment upon conviction, as it intensified efforts to curb attacks on public infrastructure across the country. The warning was issued on Friday during a stakeholders’ town hall meeting held in Koko-Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State to sensitise residents on the consequences of vandalising public facilities. The meeting, organised by the Kebbi State Command of the NSCDC, brought together civil society organisations, telecommunications operators, electricity providers, vigilante groups, scavengers’ associations, commercial motorcyclists and community leaders. Speaking at the…

Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has revealed the painful sacrifices he made in pursuit of a professional football career, recounting how he survived on garri and water for months, sold tomatoes and fish, and engaged in farming before attaining success. The 29-year-old Paris FC forward disclosed this during an interview with Urban Well Sports, where he reflected on the difficult path that eventually led him to becoming one of Nigeria’s most celebrated footballers. Simon said one of the toughest moments of his career came while undergoing trials at Rangers, where he spent nearly three months without a contract or salary.…

..Says Former Kaduna Governor Is Being Held To Weaken Opposition The African Democratic Congress has accused the Federal Government of deliberately keeping former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in detention to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation on Thursday while featuring on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme. Abdullahi claimed that although the ADC was not opposed to the prosecution of any individual with a case to answer, the continued detention of El-Rufai despite facing bailable offences suggested a political motive. He alleged that stringent bail…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Friday presented a proposed N1.854 trillion budget for the 2026 fiscal year to the Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly, marking a significant step in the state’s budget process following months of political and legal disputes. The appropriation bill, christened “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,” was presented during plenary before the lawmakers. The proposed budget represents a 24.49 per cent increase over the state’s adjusted 2025 budget and is aimed at consolidating investments in infrastructure, human capital development, security and economic growth while maintaining fiscal discipline and transparency. Presenting the estimates,…

The Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency has urged industries operating across the state to comply strictly with environmental regulations, strengthen their corporate social responsibility programmes and support government-led tree-planting initiatives to promote environmental sustainability. The General Manager of OGEPA, Kehinde Bello, gave the charge during a familiarisation tour of industries across the agency’s three operational zones—Ogun Central, Ogun West and Ogun East. According to Bello, the exercise was aimed at assessing the level of environmental compliance among industries while deepening collaboration between the agency and the private sector to protect the environment. He urged companies to organise regular environmental training…