Author: Platform Times Newspaper

No fewer than 35 children lost their lives, and six others were left critically injured following a tragic stampede at a funfair organized in Ibadan, Oyo State.. The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the development on Thursday, revealing that eight individuals involved in sponsoring the ill-fated event have been arrested. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Osifeso Adewale, disclosed in a statement that the deceased were minors, while the injured victims are currently undergoing intensive medical care. “So far, 35 minors have been documented dead, while six others are critically injured and on various medical interventions,” Osifeso said. The incident…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ogun State Command, has dismantled a six-hectare Indian hemp farm in Alaka Village, marking a significant milestone in the agency’s ongoing battle against drug trafficking. Disclosing this during a news conference in Abeokuta on Thursday, the state commandant, Mr. Tijani Rabe, said four suspects had been apprehended in connection with the illicit cultivation. He added that investigations into the case are ongoing. The news conference also served as an opportunity for the agency to present its 2024 performance report, highlighting key achievements in its anti-drug operations. According to Rabe, the command arrested 675 drug…

Tragedy struck at a festive event held at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, as a stampede claimed the lives of 35 children, leaving the city in mourning. The horrifying incident occurred on Wednesday during a funfair promoted by Agidigbo FM, a popular Ibadan-based radio station. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, the founder and chairman of Agidigbo FM, was rushed to an undisclosed hospital after reportedly collapsing from the shock. Sources revealed that Hamzat, a well-known broadcaster and advocate for social causes, slumped and became unconscious upon learning of the stampede’s devastating toll. Speaking on condition of…

Police Nab Two Suspected Thieves for Drugging Keke Rider, Stealing Tricycle in Kano The Kano State Police Command has apprehended two suspected thieves, Ado Yusuf, 40, and Rabi’u Suleiman, 35, for allegedly drugging a tricycle rider and making away with his vehicle in the Dambatta Local Government Area of Kano State. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, December 19, 2024. Kiyawa revealed that two stolen tricycles were recovered during a coordinated intelligence-led raid on criminal hideouts in the area. According to the police, the suspects were unable to provide a…

The Ogun I Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a major success in its anti-smuggling operations, intercepting contraband goods worth a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N229.1 million within just seven days. The feat was achieved under the leadership of Deputy Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, who assumed duty as the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command on December 10, 2024. The seizures, announced during a press briefing on Thursday at the command’s Idiroko headquarters, include over 2,000 bags of foreign rice, cannabis, used clothes, imported shoes, and vehicles, among others. These contraband items were intercepted at various…

Daud Olatunji The Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), Ogun State Branch, has formally decorated the Olowu of Owu kingdom, Oba Prof. Saka Adelola Matemilola, as a Patron of the society. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  event, held on Tuesday, at the monarch’s palace in Abeokuta was in recognition of his unwavering commitment to fostering peace within the Owu Kingdom and Ogun State at large. The brief but memorable ceremony was presided over by the Chairperson of SPSP Ogun State, Simiat Abaru, with the support of Mr. Bennerd Olusanya, the Director of the Conflict Resolution Department at the Nigeria…

The Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has commended President Bola  Tinubu for appointing Mr. Olufemi Dokunmu as the Executive Director (Planning and Design) of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA), Abeokuta. In a statement jointly signed by the chapter’s Chairman, Mrs. Oluwaseun Boye, and Secretary, Mr. Kunle Olayeni, the professional body described Dokunmu’s appointment as a well-deserved recognition of his expertise, leadership, and commitment to public service. The statement highlighted Dokunmu’s track record as a seasoned public relations expert and event management consultant, noting that he once served as Chairman of Ogun NIPR…

Daud Olatunji President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are at loggerheads over the N47.9 trillion 2025 budget proposal, with both sides presenting sharply contrasting views on its implications for Nigeria’s economic trajectory. Tinubu, while presenting the budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, projected an optimistic economic outlook, asserting that inflation would drop from the current 34.6% to 15% by next year. He also forecasted an improvement in the exchange rate from approximately N1,700 per dollar to N1,500. According to Tinubu, the budget is anchored on strategic measures, including reduced importation…

Over half of Nigerians have expressed a desire to leave the country, with the number of those seriously considering emigration tripling since 2017, a new report by Afrobarometer has revealed. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  report, published on Wednesday to mark International Migration Day (IMD), highlights a growing trend of Nigerians seeking to escape economic hardship and pursue better opportunities abroad. According to the pan-African research network, 56% of Nigerians have contemplated emigration, marking a 20-percentage-point increase since 2017. Those who have given “a lot” of thought to leaving have surged from 11% to 33% within the same period. The…

Ayomide Awe Ogun State is set to host the 65th National Conference of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) exactly 30 years after the state last hosted the event. The conference, scheduled to hold in Abeokuta, the state capital, from August 18 to 25, 2025, will bring together over 1,000 participants from across the country. The Chairman of STAN’s Ogun State chapter, Yomi Onanuga, made this announcement on Wednesday during a familiarization visit to the corporate office of PLATFORM TIMES in Abeokuta. Onanuga disclosed that the conference would feature representatives from all 36 states of the federation, including the…