Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has blamed the worsening wave of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism across Nigeria on sabotage by powerful interests, entrenched corruption and the influence of shadowy cabals within and outside government. In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, the group said the persistence of insecurity despite huge budgetary allocations to defence and internal security showed that “forces working against national stability” were deliberately frustrating genuine reform efforts. Afenifere lamented that initiatives aimed at improving electricity supply, water provision, agriculture, education, the economy and national security had repeatedly collapsed because of…

A 65-year-old woman, Hauwa Abulazeez, has been arrested by troops of the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation Hadin Kai, over her alleged role in supplying illicit drugs to Boko Haram terrorists operating in parts of Borno State. The military disclosed on Sunday that the suspect was apprehended in Askira Uba Local Government Area during an intelligence-led operation aimed at dismantling terrorist logistics and criminal support networks in the North-East. The Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sanni Uba, said the arrest was carried out on January 23 under Operation Desert Sanity V, describing it as a “significant…

Daud Olatunji Former Ogun State Governor and Senator, Ibikunle Amosun, on Sunday, stunned political observers and loyalists of Governor Dapo Abiodun as he firmly ruled out any defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reaffirmed his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. Amosun’s declaration came amid weeks of speculation that he was set to dump the ruling party and contest the Ogun Central senatorial seat on the platform of the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections, a move believed to have rattled the Abiodun camp and deepened existing fault lines…

The Oyo State Police Command has intercepted a consignment of materials suspected to be explosive devices in Saki, Oke Ogun area of the state, and arrested the driver conveying them. The command disclosed this in a statement on Sunday signed by its Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, noting that the arrest followed actionable intelligence that led to a stop-and-search operation by operatives in the area. According to the police, the truck and the suspected explosive materials were immediately secured and taken into custody to prevent any potential threat to public safety. “Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the command intercepted…

The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that the prices of petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will continue to decline nationwide, citing improved supply, stronger competition and rising private sector investments across the downstream oil and gas sector. The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Saidu Mohammed, gave the assurance on Sunday during an inspection tour of Aradel Holdings Plc facilities in Ogbele community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State. Mohammed said the gradual fall in pump prices reflected the impact of deregulation and expanding domestic production capacity, noting…

The Amalgamated Muslim Rights Concern (AMURIC) has called on Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu to publicly address allegations of sodomy and persecution levelled against them by Alhaji Buhari Namalam, a Sokoto-based businessman and politician. The Muslim rights group said the claims, which have gained traction through viral videos and media reports, were too sensitive to be ignored, particularly given Sokoto’s historical status as the spiritual hub of Islam in Nigeria. Namalam, a former grassroots mobiliser for Governor Aliyu during the 2023 elections, had alleged that he was subjected to persecution after refusing immoral advances, claims…

She walked into Olabisi Onabanjo University as a hopeful law undergraduate; she leaves as a first-class graduate, the best female student of her faculty. Esther Omobolanle Popoola’s journey is one of relentless discipline, quiet determination, and the unglamorous cost of excellence. In this exclusive interview with KOREDE BADMUS, Esther opens up about the sacrifices, self-discovery, and lessons that shaped her path to academic distinction, offering insights for young women daring to dream beyond societal expectations. Can we meet you? I’m Esther Omobolanle Popoola, a law graduate from Olabisi Onabanjo University. What CGPA did you graduate with? I graduated With a…

The Ogun State Police Command arrested 14 suspected cultists during a midnight raid on bush locations in Ipara-Remo, Ode, and Isara-Remo, following reports of a clandestine initiation ceremony. The suspects, including 13 males and one female, were apprehended in the early hours of Saturday. Police said the operation targeted members of the Eiye Confraternity, who had allegedly gathered for unlawful assembly and initiation of new members. A total of three locally fabricated pistols, 11 cartridges, four rounds of 9mm Beretta ammunition, cult paraphernalia including caps, charms, a drum reportedly used in initiation rituals, 19 mobile phones, and nine vehicles of…

Members of the Bayelsa United football team narrowly escaped a potentially deadly accident yesterday when one of the tyres of their team bus came off while the vehicle was in motion along the Abuja–Kano highway. The team was en route to Kano State ahead of their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 22 fixture against Barau FC. Eyewitnesses said the sudden tyre failure caused a brief moment of panic among players, coaching staff, and officials on board. However, quick reflexes by the bus driver helped regain control of the vehicle, preventing what could have been a major tragedy. “All members…

The Federal Government has dismissed reports suggesting that Nigerian students are being asked to immediately begin repayment of loans granted under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Addressing the controversy, Olusegun Dada, a presidential media aide, said the claims circulating online were misleading and urged the public to disregard them. In a statement posted on his X account on Saturday, Dada clarified, “Repayment of the student loan will not commence until the applicants have completed the mandatory two-year moratorium following the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). As it stands, the scheme will reach the two-year mark in March 2026…