Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Firdaus Obiremi A 15-year-old boy has allegedly been shot dead by police officers during a Maulid celebration in Banki, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, f¹ollowing a reported complaint by the area’s Divisional Police Officer over noise from the religious gathering. The incident, which reportedly occurred on October 18, 2026, also left several people injured, with community sources accusing the officers of assaulting worshippers, firing tear gas and live ammunition, and destroying sound equipment and other belongings. The allegations were reported by SaharaReporters, which quoted community members who spoke on condition of anonymity over fears of possible intimidation. According…

Ayomide Awe The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Federal Government before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice over alleged financial irregularities involving N78.8bn allocated to cash-transfer and social-protection programmes for vulnerable Nigerians. The organisation is asking the regional court to compel the government to account for the funds, investigate the alleged irregularities, recover any money found to have been improperly spent or diverted, and strengthen oversight of social-protection programmes. The suit follows findings contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report, published on August 7, 2026, which reportedly identified questionable transactions and inadequate financial…

Daud Olatunji Nigeria’s fight against cancer is facing a critical manpower challenge, with the country estimated to have only about 300 oncology nurses to care for thousands of patients diagnosed with the disease annually. The shortage, compounded by the migration of trained nurses to foreign countries, is threatening the quality of cancer care and placing additional pressure on the country’s already stretched healthcare system. Oncology nursing professionals have consequently called on the Federal Government to improve nurses’ welfare, expand specialist training opportunities and ensure their participation in decisions affecting healthcare delivery. They made the call in separate interviews with the…

Firdaus Obiremi An Islamic scholar, Ustaz Abdul Hakeem Folorunsho Oyegunle, has urged Muslims to prioritise family welfare, sound moral upbringing and financial responsibility, warning that wealth, overseas education and outward religious practices cannot replace good character. Oyegunle, the Mufassir of the Onikolobo Muslim Community Central Mosque, Abeokuta, Ogun State, gave the warning during the mosque’s investiture ceremony, where distinguished personalities from the academic, security and business sectors were conferred with Islamic chieftaincy titles. The ceremony, held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, attracted Islamic scholars, public officials, community leaders and other dignitaries, including the Missioner of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of North…

….Nigerians Deserve Full Disclosure — ACF …Forum Questions Benefits Of Mega Deal Daud Olatunji The Arewa Consultative Forum has challenged the Federal Government to disclose the full details of Nigeria’s reported $700bn critical minerals deal with the United States, insisting that Nigerians deserve to know what the country stands to gain from the agreement. The forum warned that keeping the terms of an agreement of such magnitude away from public scrutiny could fuel suspicion and undermine public confidence in the administration of President Bola Tinubu. The National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Professor Tukur Mohammed-Baba, made the call during an…

Ayomide Awe The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, has urged the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen security measures to protect persons with disabilities from intimidation, violence and discrimination during the 2027 general elections. Amupitan warned that inaccessible polling units, inadequate security arrangements and discriminatory treatment could prevent eligible Nigerians with disabilities from exercising their constitutional right to vote. He stressed that the credibility of the elections would depend not only on the conduct of the polls but also on the ability of every eligible voter to participate freely, safely and without discrimination. The INEC chairman spoke…

Daud Olatunji The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has taken a swipe at Nigerians who fail to acknowledge the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, suggesting that they may need eyeglasses to see the changes she says are taking place across the country. Mrs Tinubu made the remark on Saturday while inaugurating the Abuja headquarters of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, a grassroots mobilisation group working to build support for the President ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to the First Lady, Nigeria is making progress under her husband’s administration, although some citizens have apparently failed to recognise the developments.…

Daud Olatunji Angry youths in Garuruwa, Gabasawa Local Government Area of Kano State, have reportedly attacked the convoy of a member of the House of Representatives, Muhammad Chiroma Nalabara, over allegations of neglect and lack of development in their community. Nalabara, who represents Gezawa/Gabasawa Federal Constituency under the All Progressives Congress, was said to have been visiting the community on Saturday as part of a campaign-related engagement when the incident occurred. According to a report by SaharaReporters, the youths pelted the lawmaker’s convoy with objects while expressing displeasure over what they described as the failure of their representative to address…

Toyyibat Qasim Former Kano State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s administration does not deserve another term in office if it cannot protect Nigerians and safeguard their livelihoods. Kwankwaso criticised the Federal Government over persistent insecurity, killings and the collapse of industries, accusing the country’s leadership of failing to address challenges affecting the lives and economic well-being of citizens. He made the remarks on Friday in Jos, Plateau State, during an event organised by the Middle Belt Youth Council for the Obi-Kwankwaso campaign team ahead of the 2027 general elections. The…

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has recounted an unusual experience he said occurred shortly after his victory in the governorship election, claiming that a dead vulture was found on his bed when he returned home exhausted from the election campaign. The governor also claimed that another bird died in his office after he ordered the demolition of the Black House in Sapele, Delta State. Okpebholo reportedly narrated the incidents while addressing members of a church, describing the experience following his election victory as one that carried spiritual significance. Recounting the first incident, the governor said he had gone several days…