Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested five suspects, including two foreign nationals from Niger Republic, over their alleged roles as arms couriers in the November 2025 mass abduction at St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, where nearly 300 students and staff were kidnapped. Security sources said the operation also led to the recovery of a substantial arms cache comprising 15 AK-103 rifles, 15 magazines, and 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, concealed in a blue vehicle used by the suspects. Those arrested include Yusuf Mohammed, also known as Bature, a suspected member of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati…

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday renewed calls for Nigerians to embrace regular medical screening, stressing that early detection remains critical in the fight against cancer, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases. Obasanjo made the appeal in Abeokuta during the flag-off of the “Lagos to the World Expedition”, a health-awareness initiative focused on prostate cancer, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library. The expedition, driven by Nigerian entrepreneur and BMW enthusiast, Erik Nwagwu, is dedicated to the memory of his late mother and sister, both of whom died from cancer. It also seeks to promote awareness, testing and early diagnosis, particularly…

…Gov Says Protests Will “Fuel Terrorists’ Ego” …NUT Mobilises Nationwide Solidarity Rallies …Fear Spreads Across Education Sector Over Insecurity By Daud Olatunji Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, on Sunday cautioned residents against staging protests over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, warning that such actions could embolden terrorists. Makinde, who spoke during a church service at Christ Apostolic Church, Ibadan, urged families of the victims to embrace prayers and remain calm, insisting that security agencies were making efforts to secure their release. “Terrorists are within our doorstep. This is not the time for protest.…

Concerns have intensified over the growing use of targeted marketing by tobacco companies to recruit women and girls in Nigeria, with new findings indicating a surge in the promotion of flavoured nicotine products and digital advertising framed around lifestyle appeal and “safer use” narratives. A new study by an Abuja-based public policy organisation, Gatefield, has warned that tobacco and nicotine firms are increasingly deploying sophisticated marketing strategies across social media, television and streaming platforms to normalise usage among young women. The report was unveiled during a virtual event held ahead of the 2026 edition of World No Tobacco Day, where…

Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has disclosed that more than 200 operatives of the South-West security outfit, Amotekun Corps, have been killed in Oyo State while combating insecurity. Makinde made the revelation to during a visit to families of victims abducted from three schools in the Oriire area of Ogbomoso on May 15, describing the situation as tragic and calling for collective action to secure the release of the victims. The governor stressed that the current security challenges required unity among all levels of government rather than blame-shifting. He said, “This is not the time to trade blame, whether…

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, on Sunday unveiled former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as his running mate for the 2027 general elections, declaring that the vice-presidential office would no longer be treated as a subordinate position. Obi, who made the announcement at the party’s national convention in Abuja, said both leaders would operate as “equal partners” if elected, vowing to end what he described as the long-standing tradition of reducing vice presidents to “spare tyres.” “The government we intend to form will no longer be one where the vice president is seen as…

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…