Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Seven officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been declared missing following an ambush by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Kaduna State. The NSCDC spokesperson, Afolabi Babawale, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that the incident occurred on Monday in the Farin-Kasa area of Chikun Local Government Area while the officers were inspecting the national grid installation in Shiroro, Niger State. According to Babawale, the team, comprising nine officers and 71 other ranks, was deployed to monitor vulnerable sections of the national grid following a series of attacks on power lines that had caused widespread blackouts…

Four Nigerian students have been sentenced to prison in the United Kingdom for their involvement in a violent street brawl in Leicester City centre that left an 18-year-old man with stab wounds. The convicts, identified as Destiny Ojo, Joshua Davies-Ero, Ridwanulahi Raheem, and Habib Lawal, all aged 21, engaged in the fight at approximately 3:00 a.m. GMT on November 4, 2021. Weapons used during the altercation included knives, a baseball bat, and a crutch, according to evidence presented during a six-week trial at Leicester Crown Court. The Leicestershire Police, in a statement released on Monday, detailed how the suspects were…

In a decisive effort to clamp down on criminal activities in Taraba State, troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Brigade have apprehended a suspected informant for bandits during a clearance operation across several local government areas. The suspect, identified as 73-year-old Alhaji Buba Maru, was reportedly aiding bandits by allocating land for their operations in the Bakin Dutse Mountains of Ardo-Kola Local Government Area. The operation, which targeted notorious criminal hideouts, aimed to ensure the safety of residents during the harvest season and the forthcoming yuletide celebrations. Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Capt. Oni Olubodunde, disclosed in a statement on…

A Nigerian military camp was subjected to a major attack by Islamic State fighters in northern Nigeria, resulting in deaths and significant material losses. Military sources said that Islamic State fighters attacked the Nigerian Army camp in the town of Kareto in Borno State on Saturday with various weapons. Although there is no official confirmation of the casualty figures, sources said about 20 soldiers were killed. The sources added that the violent clashes erupted between the fighters and army forces, including a suicide bombing with a car bomb. They explained that the attack led to the destruction of a military…

No fewer than 25 lives have been lost to a recent outbreak of Gastroenteritis, also known as Cholera, in Sokoto State, with 15 others currently hospitalised. The outbreak has affected three local government areas: Sokoto North, Silame, and Kware, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Asabe Balarabe, confirmed the figures during a press briefing in Sokoto. She disclosed that laboratory tests conducted on samples from the affected individuals confirmed the presence of active Cholera cases. “Currently, we have 15 active cases under treatment in Sokoto North, Silame, and Kware. Sadly, we have…

The Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has expressed alarm over the increasing prevalence of polygamy among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps across the state, calling for urgent intervention from religious leaders, parents, and the government. In a viral video that has sparked widespread discussions, the governor revealed a striking example of this trend. He recounted the story of a man who arrived at an IDP camp in 2012 with one wife but has since taken three more wives within the camp. “In one of the IDP camps here in Borno State, there is one person I know…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed two of its officials for alleged corruption. Chairman Ola Olukoyede revealed this on Monday during the 6th Annual Criminal Law Review Conference organized by the Rule of Law Development Foundation in Abuja. Olukoyede emphasized that the EFCC would not only dismiss corrupt personnel but also prosecute them, stressing that integrity within the agency is non-negotiable. “You can’t be fighting corruption and your hands are dirty. He who comes to equity must have clean hands,” he stated. The dismissed officials were reportedly found guilty of extortion and other corrupt practices. “We…

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction led by former chairman of the party in the state, Sikirullahi Ogundele has disassociated itself from the actions and statements of Hon. Ladi Adebutu during Saturday’s local government election. In a statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Austin Oniyokor, in Abeokuta, the PDP faction expressed shock over Adebutu’s claim that his arrest and detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) were due to his advocacy for local government financial autonomy through free and fair elections. “How is that possible? Hon. Ladi Adebutu must think that…

A political analyst and former spokesperson Otunba Segun Showunmi, has lambasted the structure and effectiveness of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s media architecture, labeling it a “cacophony of strange fellows.” Showunmi expressed his dismay over Tinubu’s inability to assemble a streamlined, competent media team despite his vast experience in media and the significant support he received from the sector during his presidential campaign. He said this in a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to PLATFORM TIMES in Abeokuta. “For someone who has built and invested heavily in the media, it beats me how he is suddenly so confused and…

Three men who reportedly  provided intelligence to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have been brutally attacked by suspected smugglers in the Oja-Odan area of Ogun State. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the informants, whose identities remain undisclosed, were beaten and dehumanised after tipping off Customs officials about smuggling operations in the area. Investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo disclosed the incident on Tuesday via his social media platform, raising concerns about the safety of informants working with law enforcement agencies. Soyombo criticised the NCS for the alleged leakage of the informants’ identities, questioning the agency’s commitment to protecting its sources. The informants had…