Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two applicants seeking enlistment into the Nigeria Police Force for allegedly presenting forged certificates during an ongoing recruitment screening exercise in the state. The suspects were apprehended at the Police Training School in Bauchi after officials conducting the screening reportedly discovered that the candidates submitted fake results purportedly issued by the National Examinations Council. The development was disclosed in a statement released on Friday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar. According to him, the screening exercise was supervised by the head of the recruitment team, A.Y. Dickson, who led…

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has uncovered an alleged baby factory operating under the guise of an orphanage in Owerri, Imo State, rescuing five pregnant women and five newborn babies during a raid. The Imo State Commandant of the NSCDC, Basil Igwebueze, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Owerri on Saturday, saying two suspects, including the orphanage owner, Tochukwu Ogaranya, 52, and an alleged accomplice, Godwin Nnamdi, 47, were arrested in connection with the suspected child trafficking operation. Igwebueze said the discovery followed a tip-off after one of the corps’ officers spotted a pregnant teenager fleeing from the…

The Osi of Egbaland, Chief Bode Mustapha, has  received  glowing tributes from protégés and colleagues who praised his humility, charisma, and lifelong contributions to public service as he marks his 75th birthday. In a heartfelt message, Rasheed Sefiu, retired Permanent Secretary, recalled how Mustapha championed his appointment as Executive Secretary of the Abeokuta North Local Government Education Authority in January 2000. “Congratulations and God bless, sir. I am highly elated and fulfilled when I remember the mode of our connection in 1999, through which you championed my appointment. “You are indeed a worthy, humble, humane, charming, charismatic, and blessed leader,”…

The Head of Department of Theatre Arts at the Federal College of Education Abeokuta, Dr Adeniyi Adekunle Oluwadamilare, alongside some non-governmental organisations, has rallied students to break the culture of silence and speak out on challenges threatening their future. The call was made during a sensitisation programme tagged Ajose Campus Acoustic Session, organised by the Gender Development Initiative in collaboration with the institution’s Theatre Arts Department. The initiative was aimed at encouraging students to openly discuss issues affecting their wellbeing, particularly peer pressure, abuse, and reproductive health concerns. Speaking at the event, Oluwadamilare warned that many young people fall into…

The Association of Nigerian Broadcasters (ANBROAD), Ogun State Chapter, has congratulated the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Lanre Ogunlowo, on his promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police. In a congratulatory message on Saturday, the Ogun State Governor of ANBROAD, Gbenga Goke-Fadiran, described the promotion as a well-deserved recognition of Ogunlowo’s years of dedicated service, professionalism, and commitment to public safety. Goke-Fadiran, in a letter addressed to the police chief at the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, said the elevation reflected Ogunlowo’s outstanding leadership and invaluable contributions to policing and community security. According to…

The Ogun State chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised the alarm over rising divisions among Muslims in the state, urging caution and unity as the 2027 general elections approach. In a statement on Friday, the group warned that some Muslim leaders and community members are being swayed by “pregnant promises” from politicians—commitments whose delivery is uncertain and often self-serving. MURIC’s Chairman in Ogun State, Ustaadh Tajudeen Jimoh Alao, and Secretary, Ambassador Olaleye Rasheed Damilare, highlighted what they described as a worrying trend: internal quarrels among Muslims over political loyalties, while politicians themselves continue to meet, strategize, and…

At least 40 per cent of Nigerian adults are now living with hypertension, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has revealed, highlighting the country’s growing struggle with non-communicable diseases. The 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report, released on Sunday, shows that while awareness of high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases improved slightly compared to 2024, the prevalence of hypertension remains dangerously high. The report credits public health campaigns by the ministry and professional health bodies for raising awareness, encouraging routine checks, and promoting healthier lifestyles. “Hypertension is a silent killer. Many Nigerians are unaware they have…

All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft have been confirmed dead following a crash in western Iraq on Thursday, the U.S. Central Command announced. The aircraft, tasked with mid-air refueling during Operation Epic Fury, went down while flying over friendly airspace. “All six crew members aboard the aircraft are now confirmed deceased,” the Command posted on X. “The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile or friendly fire.” The identities of the victims remain withheld pending notification of next of kin. While the U.S. insists…

Uthman Ogunfolaji A suspected member of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has revealed that he intended to surrender to security forces after the Ramadan fast, but was intercepted by the Nigerian Army before he could act on his plan. Troops operating under Operation HADIN KAI arrested the insurgent while he was transporting motorcycle tyres and other maintenance spare parts from the Timbuktu Triangle, military sources confirmed on Thursday. During interrogation, the suspect admitted his affiliation with ISWAP, saying, “I am from the Markas of Kauwa under the leadership of Hamzala and assisted by Abu Umar. “I buy tyres…

A Lagos Special Offences Court on Wednesday sentenced Emmanuel Nwude, former Union Bank director, and two lawyers, Emmanuel Ilechukwu and Rowland Kalu, to one year in prison each for forgery and dealing in forfeited property. The judgement, delivered by Justice Mojisola Dada, concluded a long-running case that has spanned more than a decade, following the trio’s alleged attempt to illegally transact a property already forfeited to victims of Nwude’s infamous $242 million “non-existent airport” fraud. Nwude was previously sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2005 after defrauding Nelson Sakaguchi, a former director of Brazil’s Banco Noroeste, by selling a…