Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Tension rose in parts of Akwa Ibom on Tuesday after police operatives arrested a man, identified as David Effiong, for allegedly causing a public disturbance while dressed in full masquerade regalia, despite a statewide ban on such displays. Effiong was picked up after residents alerted security operatives that a masquerader was “constituting nuisance, chasing people and destroying property” in the community. His arrest comes amid renewed clampdown on masquerade activities following the state government’s prohibition order. Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, said the suspect acted in clear violation of the ban announced by Governor Umo…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday held a crucial closed-door meeting with Nigeria’s top security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, amid rising nationwide security tensions and the sudden resignation of Defence Minister Abubakar Badaru. The high-level meeting, which began at about midday, came less than 24 hours after Badaru tendered his resignation and as violent attacks, kidnappings and communal clashes intensify across several states. A Presidential Villa source told PLATFORM TIMES that the President convened the session “to take swift and decisive briefing” from the nation’s security architecture following what insiders describe as “an increasingly fragile security climate.” The…

Tension escalated in Ibese, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, as scores of residents stormed the streets in a peaceful protest against what they called a “coordinated and politically protected” attempt to forcefully reassign their ancestral land to neighbouring Ilaro. Bearing placards with inscriptions such as “Stop False Territorial Claims,” “Ibese United Against Encroachment,” “Ilaro Should Respect Boundaries,” and “Frontier FM Cannot Rewrite History,” the protesters marched through major routes, insisting they would resist any attempt to “erase Ibese from the map.” Speaking during the protest, Fadairo Adedotun, one of the community’s leading voices, accused powerful actors of…

The Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations is set to break new ground as it hosts the maiden edition of its end-of-year celebration, “Owanbe Nite Season 1,” a cultural-themed convergence designed to blend professionalism with the state’s rich heritage. The event, scheduled for Thursday, December 4, 2025, at Event Towers, Kuto, Abeokuta, will parade the vibrancy of Adire fabrics, district-based cultural showcases, traditional drummers, dancers and a lineup of award presentations. In a statement on Monday, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mrs. Adijat Olaleye, said the Owanbe Nite was conceived not merely as a social…

The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a cleaner and safer environment for residents, following recent concerns over indiscriminate waste disposal and industrial pollution. Dr. Ola Oresanya, the State Commissioner for Environment, spoke on Monday during a live interview on Zents 90.9 FM’s Voice of the Patriots, stressing that his ministry is leaving no stone unturned in the fight against environmental hazards. He cited the recent closure of several battery recycling factories in Ogijo as an example of proactive measures taken by the government. “The factories were sealed by our ministry in collaboration with the National Environmental…

Northern governors and traditional rulers on Monday declared unequivocal support for the immediate establishment of state police, insisting that Nigeria’s centralised policing architecture has become “grossly inadequate” for a nation battling escalating insecurity and a population of more than 200 million people. Their position was contained in a communiqué issued after a high-level security meeting in Kaduna attended by the governors of the 19 northern states, top traditional rulers, and security stakeholders. The meeting, hosted by Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, and chaired by Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, focused on the intensifying security crises—banditry, mass kidnappings, farmer-herder clashes,…

Six Lagos-based real-estate marketers were abducted on Friday in Oyebola village, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, during an inspection visit to a parcel of land meant for a new marketing campaign. The Ogun State Police Command confirmed the incident on Sunday night, describing the attack as a “disturbing escalation” of criminal activities targeting businesses and unsuspecting visitors in rural communities. Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, said the victims were part of a team brought from Lagos to assess the land ahead of a sales rollout before they were ambushed by gunmen. “They brought some marketers from Lagos to…

Residents of Bakale village in Kilgori District, Yabo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, have been issued a fresh N20 million levy by a terror gang that threatened to “kill and abduct” villagers if they fail to comply, PLATFORM TIMES can report. In an audio recording obtained by our reporter, the bandit kingpin was heard instructing the village head to immediately reconvene his subjects and deliver the ultimatum. “Did you meet with them? Did they agree to obey your command?” the gunman demanded during a tense back-and-forth with the traditional ruler. After the monarch confirmed he had already briefed residents…

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, citing what he described as “the unending leadership turmoil crippling the party at the national level.” Adeleke announced his resignation late Monday via a statement shared on his verified Instagram page, confirming that his exit letter was submitted on November 4, 2025, to PDP leaders in Sagba Abogunde, Ward 2, Ede North Local Government Area. The governor said the decision became unavoidable as the party’s internal conflicts continued to worsen without signs of resolution. “Due to the ongoing crisis within the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party…

In a sudden development, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned his appointment with immediate effect, citing health reasons, the Presidency confirmed on Monday. A statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, said the minister formally tendered his resignation in a letter dated December 1. “President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and thanked Alhaji Badaru Abubakar for his service to the nation,” the statement read. The 63-year-old former Jigawa State governor, who served two terms from 2015 to 2023, was appointed as Nigeria’s Defence Minister on August 21, 2023, by…