Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A woman identified as the wife of a fighter of the Islamic State West Africa Province has surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State with her two-month-old baby after reportedly fleeing the terrorist group’s enclave. The woman, identified as Falmata Bakwai, surrendered to troops of the 19 Brigade at Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area at about 10:15 a.m. on June 26, according to intelligence sources. Sources said Bakwai escaped from the ISWAP enclave at Dogon Chuku while her husband and other fighters were away from the camp. During a preliminary debriefing by security personnel, she…

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called for a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Ardo Risku, insisting that everyone involved in the attack must be brought to justice. The Sultan, who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of MACBAN, made the call in a condolence message issued on Saturday through the association’s National President, Baba Othman Ngelzarma. He expressed deep sorrow over Risku’s death, describing him as a respected community leader whose lifelong commitment to peace…

…Cites $2m UBA Senegal Heist …Orders Lighter Cybersecurity Measures Daud Olatunji The Federal Government has raised fresh concerns over the growing threat of cyber-enabled Automated Teller Machine attacks across Africa, warning Nigerian banks to urgently strengthen their cybersecurity systems to prevent similar breaches. The alert followed the recent theft of more than $2 million from the United Bank for Africa’s operations in Senegal through thousands of fraudulent ATM withdrawals. The warning was contained in a high-risk cybersecurity advisory issued on June 25 by the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team, an agency under the Office of the National Security Adviser. According…

A video circulating on social media showing armed bandits displaying large sums of cash allegedly obtained from ransom payments has triggered renewed concerns over Nigeria’s worsening kidnapping crisis. The footage, which surfaced on Saturday, was shared by conflict reporter Bakatsine, who covers insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West. Posting the video on his X handle, the journalist wrote, “This video shows bandits flaunting money obtained through ransom payments. May Allah bring an end to this tragedy and grant Nigeria lasting peace.” PLATFORM TIMES could not independently verify the authenticity of the video or the claim that the cash was derived from ransom…

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has declared an industrial dispute with the Federal Government and issued a fresh four-week ultimatum for the resolution of its outstanding demands, warning that it may embark on a nationwide strike if the issues remain unresolved. The decision was reached during the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Saturday to review developments following the expiration of its earlier 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government. In a communiqué jointly signed by the NARD President, Dr. Mohammad  Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, the association…

A concerned indigene of Ogun State, Ibrahim Afolabi, has challenged the senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to publicly address questions surrounding his ancestry, identity and source of wealth. Afolabi, who spoke in Abeokuta on Sunday, said the questions became necessary following a recent reception organised in Kemta, where Adeola described the event as a “glorious homecoming” hosted by his maternal family and supporters. The senator had reportedly said the reception was organised by the people of Kemta to welcome him as one of their own and to endorse his reported political ambition.…

Daud Olatunji The Onipokia of Ipokia Kingdom in Ogun State, His Royal Majesty, Oba  Yisa Olusola Adeniyi Olaniyan, has died after spending over  five years on the throne. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the first-class monarch, who ascended the throne in August 2020 as the 46th Onipokia of Ipokia Kingdom and Paramount Ruler of Ipokia Local Government, died in the early hours of Sunday. He was reportedly 55 and was preparing to mark his sixth coronation anniversary later this year. Sources within the palace disclosed that the monarch had been absent from public engagements and official palace activities for some time,…

… Legislature Overtakes Police As Least Trusted Institution …Judiciary Records 73% Distrust, Presidency 72% …Religious, Traditional Leaders Enjoy Highest Confidence Ratings Daud Olatunji The National Assembly has emerged as the least trusted public institution in Nigeria, with 77 per cent of Nigerians expressing little or no confidence in the legislature, according to the 2026 Social Cohesion Report released by the Africa Polling Institute. The report, unveiled in Abuja by the institute’s Executive Director, Prof. Bell Ihua, showed that the National Assembly displaced the Nigeria Police Force, which previously occupied the position as the country’s least trusted institution. The survey also…

A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State, Abayomi Hunye, has faulted the conduct of the party’s governorship primary, describing the exercise as lacking transparency and falling short of democratic standards. Hunye, who is challenging the outcome of the primary in court, alleged that the process was marred by imposition, disenfranchisement of genuine party members and widespread irregularities, insisting that the election did not reflect the will of party stakeholders. Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, obtained by PLATFORM TIMES, the former aspirant maintained that while he remained loyal to the APC, the party must address…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has blamed global warming on human greed, selfishness and reckless exploitation of the environment, warning that continued abuse of nature is worsening climate change and threatening the balance of the ecosystem. Obasanjo spoke in Kano on Friday at an event organised in honour of former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abubakar Mahmoud, and his Environment and Sustainability Initiative and Trust Fund. The former President said climate change was no longer a distant concern but a reality driven largely by human activities, urging individuals, governments and organisations to take deliberate steps to protect the environment. “God…