Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The  Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar,has declared that the 1445AH Ramadan fasting will conclude after 30 days on Tuesday, April 9th, 2024, while  Wednesday, April 10th, being declared as the first day of Shawwal and Eid-el-Fitr celebration The Sultan in a press statement issued on Monday night, announced that the new moon of Shawwal 1445AH was not sighted on Monday night, April 8th, 2024. The statement, released by the Sultanate Council of Sokoto’s Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs in conjunction with the National Moon Sighting Committee,…

In a united front, the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), alongside other media industry stakeholders, have fiercely demanded a thorough investigation into the abduction of FirstNews editor, Segun Olatunji, by the military. They have also threatened to pursue all available avenues to seek justice and accountability at both national and international levels should the government fails  to address the  demands within 14 days.  Olatunji’s ordeal began on March 15, 2024, when he was forcefully taken from his Lagos home in Abule Egba by armed men clad…

Daud Olatunji Tension has enveloped  Odo-Aye, Ijebu North East Local Government in Ogun State over the establishment of a cattle ranch in  the community. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that  stakeholders were at odds with one Mukaila Balogun, the promoter of the project.  Further findings have shown that the  issue has escalated to involve local authorities, community leaders, and concerned citizens, sparking concerns about security, public health, and land use. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  controversy unfolded when Mukaila Balogun, son of one of the landlords in Odo-Aye, proposed to establish a cattle ranch in the residential area.  In a bid to…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms over the health disparity affecting over half of the world’s population, with at least 4.5 billion people lacking access to essential health services in 2021.  The WHO’s call to action coincides with World Health Day, under the theme ‘My health, my right,’ emphasizing the fundamental human right to quality healthcare, education, and a clean environment. As the global community commemorates World Health Day, the WHO has underscored the pressing need for governments worldwide to prioritize healthcare infrastructure and ensure equitable access to health services.  Despite the recognition of health as a human…

The Imo State Police Command has arrested a 38-year-old guest house owner, identified as Ibe Obasi, for allegedly  torturing  and confining his  25-year-old employee, Ebuka Udembai nside a generator room till he died over phone theft  . According to a statement by Henry Okoye, the spokesperson for the command, the preliminary investigation revealed that the  suspect and two others who are currently at large committed  the crime .  PLATFORM TIMES gathered that  Udemba suffocated to death in the confined space, following accusations of theft involving a customer’s handset. The suspect  was apprehended by operatives from the Obowo Divisional Headquarters. The …

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) expressed profound regret over the loss of a Lieutenant in a terrorist ambush that occurred last Friday within the volatile Borno/Yobe border towns of Buratai and Buni Gari.  The ambush also resulted in injuries to four other personnel who are currently receiving medical treatment. In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen. Edward Buba, the DHQ disclosed that in a subsequent encounter, fighting forces successfully neutralized six terrorists and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition.  The operation, which took place along the Buratai – Buni Gari road, saw troops engaging insurgents…

The Agro Rangers of the NSCDC have repelled an attack by suspected bandits on the federal government’s grain silo in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State. Buhari Hamisu, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), said in a statement in Katsina on Sunday that the attack occurred on 6 April at about 1 a.m. According to him, the bandits wanted to destroy the silo and abduct its Manager, Lawal Shitu-Yar’adua. The agro rangers responded swiftly, engaging the bandits in a fierce gun duel for over two hours, Hamisu said. “The valiant operatives overpowered the criminals,…

A stampede during the distribution of Sallah items at the residence of Senator Aliyu Wamakko in Gawon Nama area of Sokoto has  led to the loss of nine lives and left over 30 individuals injured  Among the deceased was an official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, adding to the gravity of the situation. The Sokoto State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has swiftly responded, urging security agencies in the state to launch a comprehensive investigation into the incident.  In a statement issued by Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, the party’s publicity secretary in the state, deep sadness…

Daud Olatunji As the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), following the advice of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC), has urged Muslims to search for the Shawwal crescent immediately after sunset on Monday, 29th Ramadan 1445 A.H., corresponding to April 8, 2024. A statement issued on Sunday by the Secretary-General, NSCIA, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, stated that  according to scientific calculations, the anticipated time for the Shawwal moon conjunction in Nigeria is Monday, April 8, 2024, at 07:21 p.m.  Oloyede in the statement   however said that nevertheless, Islamic tradition dictates…

Renowned Kaduna-based activist, Senator Shehu Sani, and former Deputy Editor-in-chief and Chairman of the Editorial Board of Punch Newspapers,  Bola Bolawole, are slated as guest speakers/discussants to discourse surrounding the perceived lawlessness within the Nigerian Military and the recent detainment of First News Online Editor, Mr. Segun Ọlatunji, PLATFORM TIMES reports that   the online show is aimed to delve into the pressing issues at hand on the esteemed monthly interview platform, Boiling Point Arena, scheduled for Sunday, April 14, 2024 Boiling Point Arena, a widely-followed current affairs program, will convene via Zoom and will be broadcast live on radio station…