Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested an 18-year-old suspect while attempting to collect a N20 million ransom in a sting operation. The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikeja. Tijani said the arrest followed a complaint by officials of the Ojokoro Local Council Development Area over threats to life and a demand for ransom. He explained that acting on the report, operatives swiftly launched an intelligence-led operation that led to the suspect’s arrest on March 27 at the point of collecting the ransom. “The suspect…

…110 in Every 1,000 Children Die Before Age Five …Economic Strain, Global Instability Undermine Reforms Daud Olatunji The World Bank has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s worsening child development indicators, warning that the country is facing a silent crisis despite ongoing economic reforms. The bank disclosed that about 110 out of every 1,000 Nigerian children die before their fifth birthday, a figure it described as alarming for a country with aspirations for rapid economic growth. Speaking at the launch of the April 2026 Nigeria Development Update in Abuja, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, said although recent…

Residents of Abeokuta have expressed outrage following the shooting of a student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Gboyega Emmanuel Aderogba, by suspected cultists. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the incident occurred on March 27 in the Onikolobo area of the state capital, throwing the community into panic and raising fresh concerns over cult-related violence. The victim, an ND1 student, was said to be returning home from school with two classmates on a motorcycle when they were intercepted by armed men. Eyewitness accounts indicated that the assailants opened fire at close range, hitting Aderogba in the stomach, allegedly after mistaking him for another…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate arrest of the developer behind a collapsed multi-storey building in Abuja and directed that the land be confiscated by the government. The structure, reportedly under construction as a hotel, caved in last Friday in the Jikwoyi area of the Federal Capital Territory. Wike, who conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the site on Monday, said the building was erected without approval from the FCT Department of Development Control, describing the development as illegal and reckless. According to the minister, the developer ignored multiple stop-work notices issued by regulatory…

The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) worsened on Tuesday as state chairmen of the party rejected rival factions led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala, declaring their actions illegal and announcing a new interim leadership. The State Chairmen Forum, speaking at a press conference in Abuja through the Abia State chairman, Don Obinna, accused both camps of hijacking the party structure from its “bonafide members.” The forum threw its weight behind the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw recognition from the factions, following a recent appellate court ruling. Obinna said, “We disassociate the ADC…

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has suspended its indefinite nationwide strike, directing members to resume duties from 8 a.m. on Wednesday following renewed assurances from the Federal Government. The decision was announced on Tuesday by NARD President, Mohammad Usman Suleiman, after a meeting of the association’s National Executive Council. Suleiman said the suspension was hinged on the government’s commitment to reverse its earlier decision to halt the implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table, a key component of the agreement reached between both parties in 2025. He, however, stressed that the action was conditional, warning that the association had…

Three suspects have been arrested and arraigned for allegedly assaulting and disarming a female police inspector in Agadagba community, Ondo State. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the suspects — Amos Ajemigi, Tari Ofoezu and Lots Alonge — were apprehended following a swift operation by the Ondo State Police Command after the incident, which occurred while the officer was on official duty. The victim, Inspector Ige Olayinka, attached to the Okitipupa Area Command, was said to have been attacked while investigating a petition in the community. According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abayomi Jimoh, the assailants violently assaulted…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced several individuals for offences linked to terrorism, handing down prison terms ranging from 10 to 20 years over their involvement in supporting the Boko Haram insurgent group. The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, delivered the judgments in separate cases prosecuted by the Federal Government, ordering that all the convicts undergo rehabilitation and de-radicalisation as part of efforts to curb violent extremism. One of the convicts, Hamatu Modu, was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on membership of Boko Haram, provision of material support, and handling funds linked to the proscribed…

No fewer than 6,000 applicants have applied for 700 vacancies in the Delta State health sector, underscoring rising unemployment pressures and growing interest in government jobs. Findings showed that the recruitment exercise, initiated by the Delta State Government through the Ministry of Health, has attracted overwhelming interest barely two weeks after it was announced. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed that the exercise was approved by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state, covering both medical and non-medical positions. He linked the recruitment drive to recent upgrades in the state’s health infrastructure, including the elevation…

The Nigerian Army has dismissed allegations that its personnel purchase uniforms and protective equipment with personal funds, describing the claims as false and misleading. The rebuttal followed a viral interview by a former soldier, Rotimi Olamilekan, who alleged that troops buy essential items such as uniforms, boots and bulletproof vests despite earning modest salaries. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Appolonia Anele, said the service operates a structured welfare and logistics system that adequately caters to its personnel. She noted that soldiers receive consolidated monthly salaries alongside uniform allowances and other entitlements, which…