Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A Kano Upper Sharia Court has sentenced a 38-year-old man, Shafi’u Abubakar, to death by hanging for setting a mosque ablaze, resulting in the death of 23 worshippers. Delivering judgment on Monday, Kadi Halhalatu Khuza’i-Zakariyya held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt on four charges — culpable homicide, attempted murder, causing grievous hurt, and mischief by fire — against the defendant. Abubakar, a resident of Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, was convicted for the May 15, 2024 attack in Gadan Larabar Abasawa village. He reportedly poured petrol inside a mosque during early morning prayers,…

… Over N200m Recovered From Suspects’ Accounts The  Nigerian Army has confirmed the arrest of 18 soldiers, 15 police officers, and a traditional ruler, among others, over an expansive arms trafficking syndicate supplying weapons to terrorists and other criminal networks across the country. The shocking revelations came during a press briefing held on Wednesday by Major Ademola Owolana, spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), who disclosed that the arrests were made during Operation Snowball, a covert exercise launched in August 2024 to dismantle internal arms rackets. PLATFORM TIMES reports that this latest development is  one of the most damning internal…

The United States Government has expressed deep concern over the rising spate of insecurity across several Nigerian states, urging President Bola Tinubu to act swiftly in addressing the growing threats posed by criminal elements and terrorist groups. In a statement posted on Wednesday via its official handle on (formerly Twitter), the US Embassy in Nigeria condemned recent violent attacks and called on the Federal Government to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Embassy noted that incidents of violence have been particularly severe in Plateau, Benue, Borno and Imo States, where communities continue to face unrelenting attacks by armed groups. “The…

 Social media influencer and controversial TikTok personality, Murja Ibrahim Kunya, was on Wednesday sentenced to six months imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Kano for abusing the Nigerian currency. Justice Simon Amobeda, who presided over the matter, handed down the sentence following Kunya’s guilty plea to a one-count charge brought against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charge stemmed from an incident in December 2023, when Kunya was caught on video spraying and trampling on Naira notes while dancing at the Tahir Guest Palace in Kano. The EFCC, in its charge, said her conduct contravened…

The Orunto of Owu Kingdom, Chief Abiodun Lasile, declared on Tuesday, that traditional rulers must be recognised as key agents in tackling insecurity, moral decline, and social disintegration across Nigeria. Speaking at the workshop organised for  the Coronet Obas and Baales in Egbaland  by the Senator representing Ogun Central, Shuaib Salisu. The  event brought together traditional rulers from the six local governments of Egbaland — Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North; Odeda; Ifo; Ewekoro;and Obafemi-Owode local governments as part of an educational and cultural advancement initiative., Chief Lasile who spoke on  a powerful keynote address titled “The Enduring Legacy of Omoluabi: A…

In a bid to strengthen grassroots engagement and deepen the impact of its nationwide campaigns, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has formally unveiled its South West Zonal Directorate in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Speaking at a press conference held on Wednesday, in Abeokuta, the Zonal Director, Mrs. Salako Olufunke Fransisca, described the development as a strategic step to enhance the agency’s effectiveness in communicating federal, state, and local government programmes across the geo-political zones. The establishment of zonal directorates, according to Mrs. Salako, is in line with the NOA Act, CAP No. 64 of 2004, and is aimed at streamlining the…

The Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta Muslim Alumni (MAPAMA) has felicitated with veteran journalist, Alhaji Ayinde Soaga, on his emergence as the President of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta Alumni Association (MAPALUM). In a congratulatory message dated Wednesday, May 28, 2025, and signed by its National President, Prince Taofeek Oyeniyi, MAPAMA described Soaga’s election as timely and significant, coming at a period when his wealth of professional and leadership experience is most needed. “Your election, after an illustrious career, stands as a bridge between generations,” Oyeniyi noted. “It offers the older generation honour and fulfilment, while serving as a beacon of…

Introduction If colonialism once marched into Africa wearing khaki, clutching Bibles in one hand and British flags in the other, today’s invaders arrive cloaked in sleek devices and digital dashboards, speaking the gospel of Artificial Intelligence and algorithmic efficiency. Our forebears were herded into indirect rule by colonial administrators who claimed to bring “civilization” but delivered control. Today, we are being seduced into a new digital hegemony, where foreign algorithms determine everything from who gets a loan in Kenya’s mobile lending frenzy, to who gets stopped by facial recognition cameras piloted in parts of South Africa, to how disinformation spreads…

Athletes representing Ogun State at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival on Wednesday disrupted activities at the Games Village over unpaid allowances, grounding logistics and causing a major setback to the day’s scheduled events. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the protest, which began in the early hours at the Babcock University Games Village in Ilishan-Remo, saw the aggrieved athletes block the main entrance to the venue, leaving contingents from other states stranded. The athletes, who are demanding payment of allowances promised by the Ogun State Government before the commencement of the Gateway Games 2024, said several efforts to resolve the issue…

The Great Ife Alumni Association has elected a new set of global officers to pilot the affairs of the association for the next two years, with legal practitioner and public affairs expert, Barrister Leye Bunmi Falode, emerging as Global President. Falode was elected unopposed during the 26th Biennial Convention of the association, which held at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife — the alma mater of all members. The convention drew delegates from branches across Nigeria and the diaspora, reaffirming the global reach and unity of the alumni body. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  Global Publicity Secretary,Great Ife Alumni Association,…