Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested three men in connection with the burning of a house belonging to an elderly traditional worshipper in Ilorin, the state capital, following what police described as threats rooted in religious intolerance. The suspects were alleged to have issued threats as far back as November 2025 to set the woman’s house ablaze over her practice of traditional religion before allegedly carrying out the act on January 1, 2026. Confirming the development on Saturday, the police spokesperson in the state, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the incident was reported at about 10pm on January 2 at the…

No fewer than 181,824 male and female condoms were distributed during the 2025 Carnival Calabar as part of a coordinated HIV prevention and youth health campaign by the Cross River State Government and its partners. The Director-General of the Cross River State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Charles Iwara, disclosed this on Saturday, saying the intervention was carried out under the ninth edition of the Wise Up Carnival Campaign. Iwara said the month-long campaign, implemented in partnership with the state Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund, ran from December 1, to mark World AIDS Day,…

The Nigeria Police Force has removed and sanctioned the Divisional Police Officer of the GRA Division, Asaba, Delta State, CSP Christopher Udoh, following allegations of corruption, abuse of office and the unlawful extortion of a man whose act of kindness nearly cost him his freedom. The police also refunded money extorted from the victim, Mr Tomi Akporoghene Wojuola, who was allegedly framed for murder after rushing a sick stranger to a hospital in Asaba. The Delta State Police Command confirmed the disciplinary action on Saturday in a statement posted on X by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe.…

The United States has announced drug trafficking and terrorism-related charges against Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro, following a dramatic military operation that reportedly led to his capture. The announcement was made on Saturday by US President, Donald Trump, who disclosed that American forces had carried out what he described as a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela, resulting in the arrest of Maduro and his wife. According to Trump, the operation was executed in collaboration with US law enforcement agencies, after which the Venezuelan leader was flown out of the South American country. “The United States of America has successfully carried out a…

The Janaza (funeral) prayer for Sina Ghami and Abdul Latif Kevin Ayodele, close associates of former world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, will hold on Sunday in London. A statement released on Saturday by Boxing King Media disclosed that the prayer service would commence at 10am at the London Central Mosque, located at 146 Park Road, London NW8 7RG. Ghami and Ayodele, popularly known as “Latz,” died in a fatal road crash in Nigeria late last year. Their remains have since been repatriated to the United Kingdom ahead of the funeral. The duo lost their lives on Monday, December 29,…

Canada deported no fewer than 366 Nigerians between January and October 2025, as authorities ramped up immigration enforcement to its highest level in more than a decade, official data have revealed. Figures obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) removals programme further showed that an additional 974 Nigerians are currently listed as “removal in progress” and are awaiting deportation. The statistics, last updated on November 25, 2025, placed Nigeria ninth among the top 10 countries whose nationals were removed from Canada within the period under review. Nigeria also ranked fifth among countries with the highest number of people awaiting…

A review of Kaduna State’s fiscal projections has revealed that the government plans to spend more than 70 per cent of its internally generated revenue (IGR) on debt servicing between 2025 and 2028, raising fresh concerns about the sustainability of public finances and priorities in the state. An analysis of the Kaduna State Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the four-year period shows that out of an estimated N385bn expected as IGR, about N275bn will be committed to servicing debts — representing roughly 71.4 per cent of the state’s own revenue. According to the MTEF document, the state projects IGR…

The Nigerian Army, under Operation Hadin Kai, has identified a key coordinator of a suicide bombing network linked to recent attacks and attempted attacks in the North-East, including the deadly explosion at a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State. The Army said the suspect, Shariff Umar, also known as Yusuf, was unmasked following intelligence-led cordon-and-search operations conducted on December 31, 2025, at the Kalmari area of Maiduguri, during which 14 suspects were arrested. Confirming the development on Saturday, the Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lt-Col Sani Uba, said investigations revealed that Umar played a central role in recruiting, preparing…

Former Ogun State Governor and Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has commended security agencies for the successful rescue of a former member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Maruf Musa, who was abducted by gunmen in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area. Musa was kidnapped on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, while praying at about 8pm in Ibiade community, an incident that sparked widespread anxiety across the state, particularly in Ogun East Senatorial District. In a statement issued on Thursday, Daniel expressed profound gratitude to God for Musa’s safe return after about three days in captivity, describing the…

Abedamola Joshua, uncle of former world boxing champion Anthony Joshua, has condemned what he described as the “lackadaisical attitude” of emergency services following the tragic accident that claimed the lives of two of the boxer’s friends. Speaking on the incident, Adedamola said he was distressed by the treatment of victims at the scene, including Joshua himself, who reportedly had to cross the median after the crash instead of being attended to on a stretcher. “It is shocking and unacceptable,” he said. “When someone is in such trauma, every effort must be made to minimise stress. “Joshua should have been put…