Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji  The Nigerian military has neutralized 177 terrorists, apprehended 263 others, and rescued 158 kidnapped hostages in various operations across the nation within the past week.  This information was disclosed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, in a statement released on Friday in Abuja. The military’s operations have yielded substantial recoveries of weapons and ammunition.  Among the seized items were 170 assorted weapons and 4,692 assorted rounds of ammunition.  The recovered weapons included six PKT guns, 63 AK-47 rifles, three FN rifles, one SMG rifle, 29 locally fabricated guns, 37 dane guns, and 20 pump-action…

Afro-fusion singer and Recording Academy® voting member, Tito Da Fire adds another cap to his feathers by joining the cast of “Destination Dallas” (Piccolo in Trouble), a comedy movie produced and shot on various locations in the United States of America. The movie features a cast of Nollywood favorites such as Femi Brainard, Kogberegbe, Bayo Boy Alinco of Papa Ajasco fame, Paul Alumona, Tina Chukwuma and cameo appearances by Comedian Teju Babyface, Jedi, Edo Charles and Afrobeats singer Jayson.  Produced by, and featuring Koffi  Tha Guru, “Destination Dallas” tells the journey of Piccolo (Koffi Tha  Guru) from Nigeria to Dallas,…

The Ogun State Customs Service has achieved a remarkable revenue generation of N12.8 billion within the past six months, marking a significant improvement compared to the same period last year. This was disclosed by Comptroller Olusola Bisi, the Customs Area Controller, during a press briefing at the Ogun II Area Command on Friday. Comptroller Bisi further explained that the success record is owed to the commitment of the service operatives who worked immensely to ensure that the target given to the service is met, and eventually exceeded. He reiterated the services commitment to boosting the nation’s economy through the core…

A 24-year-old woman, Blessing Okonkwo, has confessed to selling her three-year-old sibling, Friday Okonkwo, for N410,000 in Adamawa State.   Okonkwo, during her confession, cited the severe economic hardship in the country as the driving force behind her actions.  She revealed that she had deceived her mother by promising to enrol the child in a school in Mubi, a city approximately 40 kilometres away from their home.  Instead, she sold him to a willing buyer, Efunaya Nabufe, who subsequently trafficked the boy to Enugu, a city in the southeastern state of Enugu. “I used the proceeds of the crime to buy…

 Enoch Oyedibu Pandemonium erupted in Ughelli, Delta State, on Friday when suspected armed robbers launched a brazen attack at a new-generation bank, targeting a customer on the bank premises. The gunmen, numbering about five and driving a Toyota Venza, had trailed their victim to the bank.  Witnesses reported that the customer had not yet entered the banking hall when the assailants struck.  They opened fire sporadically, causing chaos and fear among the people in the vicinity. The attackers made off with three ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags filled with cash. In the melee, the bank’s private security guard and two…

A young man, suspected of attempting to steal money from a church, found himself in a precarious and humiliating situation after getting stuck while trying to flee the scene. The incident, which quickly went viral after being shared online, shows the suspect trapped in a church window, crying out for help as a crowd gathered to witness the unusual spectacle.  According to eyewitness accounts, the man snuck into the church with the intent of stealing money. After completing his mission, he tried to escape through a window but found his arms hopelessly caught in the burglary bars. Footage of the…

The National Open University (NOUN) has scrapped its law programme, putting the careers of over 1000 students at risk.  The decision, ratified by the University’s Senate in January 2023, affects final-year students who are nearing completion of their projects. Concerned law students have written to the House of Representatives seeking intervention, and a meeting was held between student representatives and university management in November 2023.  However, no meaningful progress has been made. Students are lamenting the lack of communication from the university, with many learning about the development on social media.  They allege that the university has neglected to address…

The Anambra State Local Government Service Commission has uncovered over 300 ghost workers fraudulently receiving salaries without fulfilling their job duties.  This discovery, spearheaded by the Commission’s chairman, Emeka Ezeaka, reveals a widespread scheme involving deceased persons, retirees, and individuals who have relocated or taken other jobs. The investigation found that 59 deceased persons, 40 retirees, and 222 unidentified workers were still drawing salaries from the state.  Among the most egregious cases was a former local government employee who had secured a job at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and continued to receive both her pension and salary from the local…

A  Federal High Court in Ibadan dismissed an application filed by five Oyo kingmakers to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from probing them. In five separate judgments, Justice Ekerete Akpan held that it was impossible to restrain the EFCC from carrying out its constitutional duty which was an investigation of suspected financial crime. Akpan added that mere interpretation of EFCC’s intention especially as it bordered on N15 million bribery allegation when the antigraft body invited the applicants for interrogation did not amount to harassment. He, therefore, dismissed the application on grounds of incompetence. Counsel to the applicants,…

The Commander and Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Cdr. ‘Seni Ogunyemi, has firmly reminded officers of their duty to uphold integrity by rejecting bribes and extortion.  This directive was given during a one-day symposium themed “Legality of Traffic Management: An Overview of the TRACE Law of Ogun State,” held at the Staff Development Centre, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta. Addressing officers from the Ogun Central Command, Cdr. Ogunyemi emphasized the importance of efficiency and responsible conduct in traffic management.  He urged the officers to be passionate about their duties, maintain a positive attitude, and adhere…