Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji The Delta State Police Command has arrested 95 suspected members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC) in a series of operations across the state, including the alleged anniversary celebration of the group in Asaba. The operations also led to the recovery of five firearms, 12 live cartridges, seven expended cartridges and other items suspected to be linked to cult activities. The police spokesperson, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement, saying the arrests were carried out by operatives of the Department of Operations, Rapid Response Squad and Command Anti-Cultism Unit. According to him, the operations followed a directive…

Firdaus Obiremi The Association of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders Association of Nigeria (AMPAT) has called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to suspend registration fees and enforcement measures on mobile phone dealers for 120 days to allow stakeholders to address concerns surrounding the new policy. The association, while expressing support for the NCC’s initiative to register and authenticate SIM-enabled mobile devices, said the implementation should be suspended temporarily to enable traders to understand the requirements and resolve issues associated with the process. The National Chairman of AMPAT’s Board of Trustees, Alhaji Sani Tasi’u-Ibrahim, made the appeal during a…

Daud Olatunji The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has claimed that former President Muhammadu Buhari was reluctant to support the emergence of President Bola Tinubu as his successor in 2023 because he considered him a bad choice for Nigeria. Baba-Ahmed said Buhari resisted pressure from some political associates who insisted that Tinubu should succeed him, adding that the former president was concerned about what a Tinubu presidency could mean for the country. The PRP chairman made the remarks at a summit organised by the Northern Elders Forum, in a video published on Symfoni’s YouTube channel on…

…Former APC chieftain says six parties working on alliance, warns against vote splitting Toyyibat Qasim  The convener of the G100 political pressure group, Salihu Lukman, has said opposition parties seeking to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections may unveil a consensus presidential candidate just days before the poll. Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman of the APC, said opposition leaders were committed to the plan and were working towards reaching an agreement on a single candidate capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu. He disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy programme, adding…

…Olowu, Yusuf Ali, Bolaji bag Honorary Doctorates As Ebiti Becomes Pro-Chancellor  Ayomide Awe Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, has graduated 1,008 students at its 18th convocation ceremony, producing its first 16 Doctor of Philosophy degree holders since the institution’s establishment. The ceremony, held at the university’s main auditorium on Saturday, also featured the investiture of Dr Rafiu Ebiti as the new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, alongside the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees on three prominent Nigerians. Among those honoured were the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Matemilola; renowned legal practitioner, Prof Yusuf Ali (SAN); and Dr…

Toyyibat Qasim The European Union has pledged €20m in defence assistance to the Nigerian Armed Forces to strengthen the country’s capacity to combat terrorism, kidnapping and other security threats. The proposed assistance, under the EU’s European Peace Facility, was discussed during a meeting between the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, Gautier Mignot, and the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), in Abuja. The development comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to tackle persistent insecurity, including terrorist attacks, abductions along major highways and assaults on isolated communities. Details of the meeting were disclosed on…

Firdaus Obiremi The Nigerian Army has defended the arrest of Plateau State-based journalist and Amnesty International volunteer, Lawrence Zongo, accusing him of entering a restricted military facility without clearance and raising security concerns over his use of Meta smart glasses. Zongo was arrested on October 5 at a military medical facility within Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, headquarters of the Army’s 3 Division in Rukuba, Jos, Plateau State. The journalist had reportedly visited the facility to see relatives receiving treatment for injuries sustained during an attack in Bassa Local Government Area of the state. His arrest sparked concerns from Amnesty International, which…

Ayomide Awe Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued a kidnapped victim, neutralised two suspected kidnappers and recovered N10 million reportedly paid as ransom during a security operation in Falgore Forest, Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State. The operation, conducted in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and local hunters, also led to the recovery of the ransom paid by the victim’s family following his abduction. The Army disclosed the development in a statement issued on Saturday by the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 3 Brigade, Major Babatunde Zubairu. According to the statement,…

Daud Olatunji A graduate of Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State, Fariat Damilola Hamzat, has emerged as Nigeria’s Overall Best Female Graduate in Food Science and Technology, earning national recognition for her outstanding academic performance. Hamzat, who was the best graduating student in both the Department of Food Science and Technology and the College of Food and Agricultural Science and Technology during the 2024/2025 academic session, received the prestigious Dolapo Coker Award at the 50th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology. The conference, which brought together professionals and stakeholders in…

…Narrates How APC Officials Promised Him Money, Car, Appointment …Raises Alarm Over Family’s Safety, Asks Security Agencies To Investigate Matter, Bring Perpetrators To Book Daud Olatunji A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Topa Olusegun Peter, has raised the alarm over the alleged unauthorised use of his name as a governorship aspirant ahead of the 2027 election, insisting that he never purchased a nomination form or authorised anyone to represent him in the purported political race. Peter, the Baale of Olorunsogo, Ilara, in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of the state, also alleged that the chairman of the…