Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Grace Adeleke At least 33 suspected illegal miners have reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State, following an alleged outbreak of disease among detainees. The deaths occurred shortly after the suspects were arrested during an anti-illegal-mining operation conducted by the NSCDC in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state. The Niger State Command of the NSCDC confirmed the deaths on Thursday, saying some of the suspects were found dead in the early hours of September 17. The commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, said the arrests followed “burst operations” carried…

Daud Olatunji Babcock University has renewed its commitment to strengthening its academic, research, entrepreneurial and character-building legacy as the institution marked its 67th Founders’ Day anniversary. The President/Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Afolarin Olutunde Ojewole, made the commitment on Thursday at the institution’s Founders’ Day celebration held at its main campus in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State. The anniversary, which was marked under the theme, “Founded on Grace, Building for Greatness,” celebrated the institution’s journey from the Adventist College of West Africa, established in 1959 with only seven ministerial students, to a major private university. Ojewole said the university’s growth over the…

Mujeeb Akindoyin The Oyo State Police Command has rescued four more children allegedly stolen from their biological parents and sold to different individuals, bringing to 21 the number of children recovered in an ongoing investigation into a suspected child-stealing, human trafficking and baby factory syndicate. The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka. The latest recoveries followed complaints from parents who reportedly recognised their missing children after the command earlier announced the rescue of 17 children and the arrest of suspects allegedly linked to the syndicate. According to the…

Extortion Scandal: Police Dismiss Two Inspectors, Two Sergeants In Lagos Officers Face Sanctions Over Alleged Corrupt Practices, Abuse Of Authority Area Commander Ordered To Arrest Personnel, Recover Warrant Cards Daud Olatunji The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed four officers attached to the Ikeja area of Lagos State following disciplinary proceedings over allegations of extortion, corrupt practices, unlawful exercise of authority and discreditable conduct. The affected personnel are two inspectors, Omosebi Emmanuel and Arishekola Oluwatobi, and two sergeants, Olawunmi Michael and Ajibade Adegbenga. The dismissal was contained in a police wireless message dated September 3, 2026, issued by the Commissioner of…

Victoria Ikene Two men have been arrested by the Katsina Community Watch Corps, popularly known as C-Watch, over alleged involvement in supplying ammunition and running errands for a suspected notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Maha, in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. The suspects, identified as Abubakar from Jaya and Ubale Change from Matazu, were reportedly apprehended by security operatives amid continuing efforts to disrupt the supply networks sustaining armed banditry in the state. According to accounts contained in a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the suspects allegedly admitted during interrogation to involvement in the movement and transfer of ammunition. Abubakar…

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested and repatriated a Chinese national, Zhang Shijie, who was allegedly wanted by Chinese authorities over the smuggling of about 1,400 tonnes of African Rosewood valued at approximately 15.7 million Chinese Yuan. The suspect was arrested by operatives of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau, Abuja, on September 10, 2026, in the Ogere area of Ogun State, following intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated investigations. The police said Zhang was subsequently handed over to the Chinese authorities and repatriated to Guangzhou on September 16. The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement…

Zainab Abioye The Independent National Electoral Commission has explained the absence of its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, from its Abuja headquarters, saying he is away on an official assignment. The commission also clarified that Amupitan has the authority to delegate his responsibilities to any National Commissioner while he is away. INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, gave the clarification in response to questions raised by the Obidient Movement over the whereabouts of the electoral umpire. “The Chairman is on an official assignment outside Abuja. He can delegate powers to any National Commissioner,” Eta-Messi said. The…

Daud Olatunji The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced investigations into a Kano-based suspect, Usaini Ibrahim, following his arrest over an alleged possession of counterfeit United States currency worth $212,200. The suspect was arrested on September 3, 2026, by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency along Maiduguri Road in Kano, where the suspected fake currency was reportedly discovered. The NDLEA subsequently transferred Ibrahim and the recovered exhibits to the EFCC Kano Zonal Directorate for further investigation and possible prosecution. The development was disclosed by the EFCC in a statement posted on its official X account on Thursday.…

Toyyibat Qasim The Federal Government, 36 states and the 774 Local Government Areas shared N2.338tn in revenue generated in August 2026, according to the Federation Account Allocation Committee. The latest allocation represents distributable revenue from statutory revenue and Value Added Tax collected during the month, with the three tiers of government receiving different portions based on the applicable revenue-sharing formula. The Director of Press and Public Relations in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, disclosed the figures in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. According to the statement, the N2.338tn shared at the September 2026 FAAC…

….PDP Candidate Alleges APC Intolerance, Poster Destruction, Campaign Obstruction Daud Olatunji The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has challenged the All Progressives Congress candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to sue him over his claim that the senator is not an indigene of the state. Adebutu, a former member of the House of Representatives, said he was prepared to present documentary evidence in court to support his claim, insisting that Adeola should allow the matter to be determined through legal proceedings if he believed the allegation was false. The PDP candidate spoke on…