Author: Platform Times Newspaper

… Curfew Imposed in Three LGAs Hoodlums set ablaze seven mass transit buses in Potiskum, Yobe State  amid the  #EndBadGovernance protests.  The buses, owned by the local government, were torched at the Potiskum Local Government Secretariat on Thursday. Eyewitnesses reported that a large group of individuals arrived at the secretariat premises, causing chaos before being intercepted by security forces.  “They came in their numbers, but the security personnel were swift in their response, preventing further damage,” an eyewitness recounted. Confirming the incident, the Yobe State Police Command Spokesman, Dungus Abdulkarim, assured that the perpetrators would be apprehended and prosecuted.…

The Borno Police Command on Thursday alleged that Boko Haram elements have infiltrated protesters along Baga Road in Maiduguri, killing four persons, while 34 others sustained various degrees of injuries. The Police Commissioner (CP), Yusuf Lawal, disclosed this while providing a situation report to the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Maiduguri.  He said that the police swiftly deployed the  Explosive Ordnance Device(EOD), Base 13, which  probed the scene and rendered the area around a filling station safe. Lawal said that the injured persons and corpses were evacuated to Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri for treatment and autopsy. Lawal,…

A tragic incident occurred on Thursday in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, when an immigration officer accidentally shot himself while attempting to manage a large-scale protest.  The officer, whose identity remains undisclosed, was part of a joint security task force deployed to maintain order during the demonstration.  The team included personnel from the police, military, immigration, Department of State Services (DSS), and civil defence forces. The incident happened at the Bulumkutu rail junction, a key location where protesters had gathered to voice their grievances against the government’s handling of several critical issues.  These issues include the prolonged Boko Haram…

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has confirmed the killing of one of the protesters  by security operatives in the Suleja area of Niger State.  This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Suleja branch of the NBA, Abdullahi Liman, following a directive from the national president of the association.  Liman, said  he visited the residence of one of the deceased protesters, Yahaya Nda Isah, to gather credible information for further action.  “The national level of the NBA has asked all the branches to constitute monitoring committees in respect of the protest,” Liman said. He further stated, “We are going around…

Daud Olatunji  The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a stern warning to the Take It Back Movement, an advocacy group planning the #EndBadGovernance protest, slated for August 1 to August 10. The group has come under scrutiny for not providing required details about the protest organisers, a condition mandated by Nigerian law enforcement authorities. In a statement released late Wednesday, Egbetokun expressed concern over the movement’s refusal to comply with the Nigerian Police Force’s requirements, which include submitting the names of the organisers, the planned route, and the schedule for the protests.  The Police IG emphasised that…

Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, has once again called for the expulsion of armed Fulani herders from the South-West region of Nigeria.  This new eviction notice, announced on July 15, 2024, is the second of its kind issued by Igboho, highlighting the intensifying hostilities and criminal activities plaguing the area. Igboho’s move comes amid a resurgence in banditry, kidnappings, and violent crimes that have plagued the region despite previous efforts to curb these issues.  The Yoruba freedom fighter had initially made headlines during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari when he launched a campaign urging violent herders…

Senator Solomon Adeola, representing Ogun West and serving as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, has expressed his deep gratitude and enthusiasm following the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) recent approval for the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Abeokuta-Iboro-Ilaro Road.  This  development was announced by Senator Dave Umahi, the Minister of Works, after a Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday. The contract, valued at N57 billion, has been awarded to Strabic Construction Company, marking a monumental investment in the infrastructure of Ogun West Senatorial District.  This road, crucial for connecting Abeokuta, the state capital, to Iboro and Ilaro, is poised to…

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) announced on Wednesday that it has successfully disbursed a total of N1.17 billion to 20,000 students across five public tertiary institutions.  This announcement was made by the Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, at a press conference held in Abuja. Sawyerr highlighted that the disbursement aligns with a directive from President Bola Tinubu and reflects NELFUND’s commitment to enhancing access to education for deserving students.  He emphasised that the fund has ensured that 100 percent of the students’ institutional fees were covered. “The total amount disbursed is N1,172,388,340.00, which has been paid in full…

Daud Olatunji  No fewer than 49  inmates of the Old Abeokuta Custodial Centre in Ogun State have graduated from courses in computer desktop publishing and basic education. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  graduation ceremony, held on Wednesday, showcased the centre’s commitment to reform and empowerment through education. The welfare officer of the custodial centre, Awesu AbdulHakeem, announced the graduation, detailing that 27 inmates completed the computer desktop publishing programme, while 22 inmates graduated from the basic education course.  The event was well-attended, featuring dignitaries such as the Comptroller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Ayodeji Adepoju, and the Officer-in-Charge of the…

Daud Olatunji  The Olowu of Owu-Abeokuta kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola, has made a strong case for the reintroduction of history into the Nigerian school curriculum. The monarch stated this  on Wednesday at his Oke-Agowu Palace during a press conference heralding activities marking the second anniversary Coronation and 60th birthday. Oba Matemilola emphasised the importance of teaching accurate historical narratives from a local perspective, particularly for the Yoruba people. According to Oba Matemilola, much of the history taught in Nigerian schools has been shaped by colonial narratives, often misrepresenting significant events and figures.  He cited the example of…