Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A powerful rainstorm has wreaked havoc in Imeko, Ogun State, leaving a trail of destruction that has rendered numerous residents homeless and caused extensive damage to properties worth millions of naira. The storm, which struck the ancient town and its environs, uprooted trees, tore off rooftops, and collapsed walls, forcing families to flee their homes in search of safety. The affected areas include Kongo, Lafenwa/Surulere, Kogo Road, Obolo Road, Idi-Oro, Area 5 Junction Lafenwa, Oke Igbere, Secretariat Road, Obatedo, Araromi Street, Loye Street, Odi-Olowo, among others. Among the victims is Pastor Olugbile Israel Adebayo of The Christ Preachers Bible Church,…

The grip of terror has intensified in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, as residents flee en masse following chilling threats from the notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, who remains high on the nation’s most-wanted list. Communities in Bafarawa, Arume, Gebe, and Kamarawa have witnessed a mass exodus over the past 72 hours. According to terrified locals, Turji delivered an ultimatum to neighbouring settlements—Kamara, Arume, and Kagara—demanding that they vacate their villages by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday or face brutal consequences. “This is no empty threat. We know what Turji is capable of. We left with only the clothes…

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stressed that politics should be a tool for delivering essential services to citizens rather than serving self-interest. He made this assertion on Sunday while delivering a keynote address at the Rotary International District 9141 Conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The conference had the theme: “The Magic of Connection: The Imperative and Privilege of Service.” Highlighting the core responsibilities of government, Osinbajo underscored the need for accessible healthcare, quality education, and a robust social security system, which he described as fundamental rights of every Nigerian. “Leadership in politics and governance must be service-oriented.…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a woman, Ihensekhien Obehi, for attempting to smuggle cocaine to Iran using a highly unusual concealment method involving her private parts, stomach, and handbag. Obehi, who disguised herself in a hijab, was apprehended on Sunday, May 3, 2025, at the Port Harcourt International Airport while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight en route to Iran via Doha. According to a statement by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the suspect was caught with three wraps of cocaine inserted into her private part, two parcels concealed in the false bottom of…

Former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has ruled out any return to the Aso Rock Villa, throwing her weight behind President Bola Tinubu and First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, ahead of the 2027 general elections. Jonathan made the statement on Saturday night in Abuja while receiving the Women Icon Leader of the Year 2025 award presented by Accolade Dynamics Limited. She used the occasion to express her unwavering commitment to the principle of rotational leadership, describing it as crucial to Nigeria’s unity. “I believe in one president. I believe in turn-by-turn. When it’s your turn, I will support you. When…

In a startling revelation that has further stoked controversy in Nigeria’s political scene, a journalist, Francess Olisa Ogbonnaya, has accused UK-based Nigerian businesswoman, Sandra Duru, popularly known as Prof Mgbeke, of orchestrating a smear campaign against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The exposé comes on the heels of Duru’s earlier claims that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to bribe her with N200 million to fabricate an allegation of organ harvesting against Senate President Godswill Akpabio — an allegation the senator has since denied. In a viral video that surfaced over the weekend, Ogbonnaya alleged that Duru contacted her with a request to produce a…

Former Special Assistants (SAs) who served in the administration of ex-Governor Ibikunle Amosun have renewed their appeal to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State over the non-payment of their severance allowances, urging him to fulfill a promise made years ago. The aggrieved aides, who served between 2015 and 2019, made their plea in an open letter signed by the coordinator of the group, Hon. (Otunba) Musiliu Oladeinde. The forum appealed to Governor Abiodun for what they described as a “kind consideration” in approving and releasing their severance entitlements as stipulated by extant laws. The former aides, under the aegis of…

Worried by the steady decline in reading habits among young learners, a Professor of Discourse Analysis and Linguistics, Bandele Adeboye Sogbesan, has called for a radical shift in the content and presentation of children’s literature in Nigeria. Sogbesan, who made the call at the 32nd Inaugural Lecture of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, insisted that sparking interest in reading at an early age requires more engaging, imaginative and fun-based literary materials tailored to young minds. Speaking on the topic, “The Pilot’s Dilemma in the Search for Utopia: Replicating Linguistic and Communicative Competencies in Institutions of Learning,” the professor…

The Ogun State Muslim Council (OMC) has charged intending pilgrims from the state and across the country to conduct themselves with discipline and decorum during the 2025 Hajj exercise. Speaking at a farewell event held in Abeokuta for the state’s contingent, the Council warned that any act of indiscipline—whether deliberate or unintended—could tarnish Nigeria’s image and hinder the overall success of the religious pilgrimage. The OMC, under the leadership of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, described the Hajj as a sacred global convergence that demands strict adherence to rules and spiritual mindfulness. In a statement signed by…

Seventy-eight Nigerian victims of human trafficking rescued from Côte d’Ivoire arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, late Saturday night amid tears, relief and renewed hope, as the Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Binta Adamu Bello, vowed a total crackdown on the syndicate behind their ordeal. NAPTIP disclosed this in a  statement issued by the Press Officer,  Adekoye Vincent , adding that the victims, include  75 young women and girls, three babies, and two adult males—were evacuated aboard an Air Peace flight facilitated free of charge by the airline’s Chairman, Mr…