Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and Southwest Farmers have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).  PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the development was  aimed at fostering peaceful coexistence and ensuring food sustainability. The historic agreement, signed at a day-long conference in Ibadan, marks a significant milestone in resolving longstanding conflicts between herders and farmers in the region. Under the auspices of the Southwest Commodity Farmers Organization, the National Chairman of the Cattle Breeders Association and Southwest Farmers came together to ink the peace treaty.   Olusegun Dasaolu, the coordinator of the Southwest Commodities Farmers Organization, emphasized the summit’s importance…

Seven young Qur’anic School pupils, known as Almajiris have  lost their lives when a burrow pit at Malam Dan-umma Quranic School in Badariya, Birnin Kebbi  collapsed.  The proprietor, Malam Dan-umma, recounted the heartbreaking event, stating that he had sent the pupils to collect laterite sands for maintenance work.  However, tragedy struck when a heavy portion of the laterite hill collapsed, burying the children. PLATFORM TIMES reports that seven were pronounced dead at the scene, while one was hospitalized.  The bodies were taken to Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital Birnin Kebbi, with plans for funeral arrangements.  Zayyanu Sanka, a resident and Special…

Gunmen launched a deadly attack on two traditional Chiefs (Baales) in Ogun State, leaving them wounded, and killing a security officer.  Saibu Razaq of Keleu village and Sesi Ọdunjo of Abule-Oko Village were targeted while returning from a Council of Baales meeting at Obalade Abule Oba village. The incident, which occurred around 4 pm on Thursday between Alabe and Okesa villages in the Ewekoro Local Government Area, shocked the community.  According to a police source, the assailants, numbering about five, ambushed the chiefs unexpectedly, shooting them in the head and shoulders. As news of the attack spread, members of the…

The Oyo State High Court in Awe, Oyo State, has dismissed a case brought by the Oyo kingmakers (Oyo Mesi) against Governor Seyi Makinde, the state Attorney General, and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters regarding the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo due to an administrative defect. The case arose following the passing of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who ruled for 52 years.  The claimants, including prominent figures such as Chief Yusuf Layinka and Chief Gbadebo Mufutau, sought an injunction to prevent Governor Makinde from interfering with their choice for the vacant…

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has disbursed a substantial sum of N1.123 trillion to  federal, state, and local governments for March 2024.  PLATFORM TIMES gathered that this allocation, derived from a gross total of N1.867 trillion, underscores the critical distribution of funds aimed at bolstering various government tiers. The Director of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Finance,Mohammed Manga,in a statement emphasised  the FAAC’s role in examining and approving the distribution of financial resources to the states and the Federal Government. Chaired by the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Madein, the FAAC meeting highlighted the…

Jonathan Marcus, a former driver to the late Adebola Ezekiel, 80, and his wife Abiodun Ezekiel, 79, has been apprehended for the alleged  gruesome murder of the elderly couple in their Apo residence.  PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  couple was found with their throats slit in a pool of blood earlier this month, sparking a swift and discreet investigation by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command. According to FCT Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, Marcus was tracked down to his hideout in Obajana, Kogi State, where he was arrested. He added that  Marcus has confessed to the heinous crime,…

 A 48-year-old traditional ruler of Sansani chiefdom in Taraba State, Alhaji Abdulmutalib Jankada, has been brutally shot dead in his palace.  The Taraba State Police Command confirmed the tragic assassination, igniting shockwaves throughout the region. According to DSP Kwache Bajabu Gambo, spokesperson for the Command, the assailants struck at approximately 10 p.m. on Thursday, launching a brazen attack on the revered monarch within the confines of his own palace.  The Command swiftly launched a manhunt for the perpetrators, vowing to bring them to justice. The assailants, reportedly arriving on motorcycles under the cloak of darkness, infiltrated the palace premises undetected…

A recent report by the International Monetary Fund has shaken up the economic landscape of Africa, revealing Nigeria’s descent from the throne of the continent’s largest economy to a modest fourth position.  This downward shift marks a significant setback for the nation, attributed largely to the economic policies spearheaded by President Bola Tinubu. In 2022, Nigeria proudly held the title of Africa’s largest economy. Fast forward to the present, and the country finds itself overshadowed by Egypt, South Africa, and Algeria.  Egypt’s ascent to the top spot in 2023, coupled with South Africa’s resurgence, has relegated Nigeria to the sidelines.…

President Bola Tinubu has  reiterated his government’s unwavering commitment to cease all ransom payments, emphasizing that kidnappers “will receive not a dime.”  This declaration, featured in an opinion piece authored by the president and published in the latest edition of Newsweek magazine, underscores a pivotal shift in Nigeria’s approach to combating the scourge of abductions. The president’s firm stance comes amid renewed public outcry and solemn remembrance of the 276 Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists on April 14, 2014, in Borno State.  Regrettably, about 91 of these girls remain in captivity, underscoring the persistent threat posed by kidnappings…

The Abia State Police has  announced the apprehension of the suspected killer of a final-year undergraduate student from Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU).  Police spokesperson Maureen Chinaka revealed this development in an official statement released on Thursday. The victim, Emmanuel Uche, had gone missing in March following cult-related clashes within students’ residential quarters in the area.  A  viral video later surfaced, capturing the brutal murder of the victim by a group of suspected cultists outside the university premises.  The footage depicted Uche’s desperate attempt to escape as he crawled through an untarred road, only to be fatally shot by one…