Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Oyo State Police Command has intercepted a consignment of materials suspected to be explosive devices in Saki, Oke Ogun area of the state, and arrested the driver conveying them. The command disclosed this in a statement on Sunday signed by its Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, noting that the arrest followed actionable intelligence that led to a stop-and-search operation by operatives in the area. According to the police, the truck and the suspected explosive materials were immediately secured and taken into custody to prevent any potential threat to public safety. “Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the command intercepted…

The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that the prices of petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will continue to decline nationwide, citing improved supply, stronger competition and rising private sector investments across the downstream oil and gas sector. The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Saidu Mohammed, gave the assurance on Sunday during an inspection tour of Aradel Holdings Plc facilities in Ogbele community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State. Mohammed said the gradual fall in pump prices reflected the impact of deregulation and expanding domestic production capacity, noting…

The Amalgamated Muslim Rights Concern (AMURIC) has called on Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu to publicly address allegations of sodomy and persecution levelled against them by Alhaji Buhari Namalam, a Sokoto-based businessman and politician. The Muslim rights group said the claims, which have gained traction through viral videos and media reports, were too sensitive to be ignored, particularly given Sokoto’s historical status as the spiritual hub of Islam in Nigeria. Namalam, a former grassroots mobiliser for Governor Aliyu during the 2023 elections, had alleged that he was subjected to persecution after refusing immoral advances, claims…

She walked into Olabisi Onabanjo University as a hopeful law undergraduate; she leaves as a first-class graduate, the best female student of her faculty. Esther Omobolanle Popoola’s journey is one of relentless discipline, quiet determination, and the unglamorous cost of excellence. In this exclusive interview with KOREDE BADMUS, Esther opens up about the sacrifices, self-discovery, and lessons that shaped her path to academic distinction, offering insights for young women daring to dream beyond societal expectations. Can we meet you? I’m Esther Omobolanle Popoola, a law graduate from Olabisi Onabanjo University. What CGPA did you graduate with? I graduated With a…

The Ogun State Police Command arrested 14 suspected cultists during a midnight raid on bush locations in Ipara-Remo, Ode, and Isara-Remo, following reports of a clandestine initiation ceremony. The suspects, including 13 males and one female, were apprehended in the early hours of Saturday. Police said the operation targeted members of the Eiye Confraternity, who had allegedly gathered for unlawful assembly and initiation of new members. A total of three locally fabricated pistols, 11 cartridges, four rounds of 9mm Beretta ammunition, cult paraphernalia including caps, charms, a drum reportedly used in initiation rituals, 19 mobile phones, and nine vehicles of…

Members of the Bayelsa United football team narrowly escaped a potentially deadly accident yesterday when one of the tyres of their team bus came off while the vehicle was in motion along the Abuja–Kano highway. The team was en route to Kano State ahead of their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 22 fixture against Barau FC. Eyewitnesses said the sudden tyre failure caused a brief moment of panic among players, coaching staff, and officials on board. However, quick reflexes by the bus driver helped regain control of the vehicle, preventing what could have been a major tragedy. “All members…

The Federal Government has dismissed reports suggesting that Nigerian students are being asked to immediately begin repayment of loans granted under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Addressing the controversy, Olusegun Dada, a presidential media aide, said the claims circulating online were misleading and urged the public to disregard them. In a statement posted on his X account on Saturday, Dada clarified, “Repayment of the student loan will not commence until the applicants have completed the mandatory two-year moratorium following the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). As it stands, the scheme will reach the two-year mark in March 2026…

The Anambra State Government has formally abolished the long-running Monday sit-at-home across the state, warning that civil servants who fail to report for duty risk losing up to 80 per cent of their salaries or forfeiting them entirely. The directive, which takes immediate effect, was conveyed in a statement issued by the Board Secretary of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs Mgbemena Loveline, following the State Executive Council retreat held on January 21, 2026, and presided over by Governor Chukwuma Soludo. According to the statement, all workers — both teaching and non-teaching staff — are mandated to resume…

A newly married woman has been arrested by the Jigawa State Police Command for allegedly poisoning her husband with rat poison, leading to his death in Gauza village, Jahun Local Government Area of the state. The incident occurred on Friday, January 23, 2026, at about 5pm, when the deceased reportedly returned home and ate a meal prepared by his wife before suddenly developing severe complications. Confirming the development on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Shi’isu Adam, said the man was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead while receiving treatment. Adam disclosed that detectives from the…

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested three young men for allegedly unleashing violence and causing widespread panic during a masquerade procession in Mbioto II Village, Etinan Local Government Area of the state. The suspects — Kenneth Bassey, 31; Ofonime Isaac, 25; and Paul Samuel Bassey, 21 — were apprehended on Friday at about 4:45pm following a distress call by residents over what the police described as “serious breach of public peace and disorderly conduct” carried out under the guise of cultural festivities. In a statement issued in Uyo on Saturday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John,…