Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji Panic and grief have gripped Kassa community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State after seven miners were killed when a mining pit collapsed on them while they were working at the site. The incident reportedly occurred around 7pm on Wednesday, leaving residents and fellow miners scrambling to rescue those trapped underground. The miners were said to have been working at the site when the earth suddenly gave way, burying them beneath the collapsed section of the mining pit. A resident, Albert Danlami, who confirmed the incident, said members of the community and other miners immediately…

Daud Olatunji A farmer identified as Mr Dada has been killed by suspected bandits while working on his farm in Oshokoshoko, Oworo, Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State. The incident, which reportedly occurred on Tuesday morning, has heightened fears among farmers and residents in the community, with calls for urgent deployment of security personnel to vulnerable farming areas. Oshokoshoko is located along the Obajana–Kabba corridor, an important route linking several communities in Kogi State. According to community sources, Dada had left for his farm in the morning but failed to return home as expected. His family members reportedly became…

Daud Olatunji At least 168 solar-powered streetlights installed along the Longbridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have been stolen by suspected vandals, plunging parts of the busy highway into darkness and raising fresh concerns about road safety and security. The lighting infrastructure was installed in 2025 along the approximately five-kilometre bridge to improve visibility for motorists, particularly at night, and reduce the risk of crashes and criminal activities on the strategic route. However, the gradual removal of the streetlights has reportedly left several sections of the bridge without adequate illumination. The development has triggered concern among motorists and business operators…

The National Union of Air Transport Employees has raised the alarm over the alleged non-remittance of about ₦25bn in Ticket Sales Charges, warning that the development is weakening aviation agencies and putting workers’ welfare and operations at risk. The NUATE Chairman in the Federal Capital Territory, Ahmed Yusuf, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria. Yusuf said the money represented the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge collected from passengers and meant to be distributed among relevant aviation agencies. He alleged that the failure of airline operators to remit the charges had…

Daud Olatunji A recently rescued kidnap victim in Kogi State, Victor Anyichie, has recounted how he was severely beaten by his abductors after telling them that his family could only raise N500,000 as ransom. Anyichie was among 16 passengers abducted when armed men attacked commuters along the Ojuwo-Ajengo-Memarebo and Ojiwo-Itobe roads in Ofu Local Government Area of the state. The victims were rescued on Monday during a joint security operation involving personnel of the Nigerian Army, Navy, police and local vigilantes along the Ajaokuta-Anyigba road. A local hunter was killed while a police officer sustained injuries during the operation. Speaking…

Ayomide Awe The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has uncovered alleged widespread manipulation of government payroll systems, including a case involving an official who reportedly enrolled 14 members of his family as government workers. The ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja, saying the commission’s investigation also uncovered another individual who allegedly placed his wife, children and other relatives on the government payroll and collected 13 salaries. Aliyu made the disclosures while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Economic Confidential Lecture and National Spokespersons Award organised by Image Merchants Promotions Limited. The revelations…

Daud Olatunji MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, operators of DStv and GOtv, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged revenue loss of more than ₦2bn arising from activities allegedly linked to indigenous pay-TV operator, Moreplex TV Limited. The development has escalated the commercial and regulatory dispute between the two companies, with questions being raised over the circumstances surrounding the petition and the subsequent criminal proceedings reportedly initiated against Moreplex. In a two-page petition addressed to the Zonal Director of the EFCC in Ilorin, Kwara State, and signed by MultiChoice’s Head of Anti-Piracy, Umar Ibrahim Abdulaziz, the company accused Moreplex…

Zainab Abioye Nigeria has failed the United States’ minimum fiscal transparency assessment for the second consecutive year, with Washington faulting the country over weaknesses in budget preparation, execution, auditing and public procurement disclosure. The finding is contained in the 2026 Fiscal Transparency Report released by the US Department of State on August 11, 2026, following an assessment of 140 governments and entities covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2025. Nigeria was among 67 governments that failed to meet the minimum transparency requirements, while 73 passed the assessment. Of the 67 countries that failed, 14 were considered to…

Oluwanifemi Ibikunle The Sokoto State Police Command has rescued a 10-year-old boy, Muhammad Sufiyanu, who was allegedly abducted and concealed inside a sack by suspected kidnappers in Tangaza Local Government Area of the state. The rescue, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, followed a swift response by detectives attached to the Gidan Madi Police Division after the boy was reported missing. The command also announced the arrest of a suspected notorious kidnapper, Abdullahi Buba, popularly known as “Osho,” in a separate intelligence-led operation in Gwadabawa Local Government Area. According to the police, the two operations formed part of…

Mujeeb Akindoyin Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, Seyi Makinde, has picked a former Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Musa Daura, as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election. Makinde announced Daura’s selection on Thursday at the APM’s elective national convention held at the Rilwanu Adamu Square, Government House, Bauchi. The governor, while unveiling his running mate, said the opposition’s task ahead of the 2027 election went beyond defeating the ruling party and taking over government. He said the major responsibility was to offer Nigerians a credible alternative and demonstrate how…