Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has called for a probe by the National Assembly into recent Nigerian Air Force airstrikes that reportedly led to civilian casualties, insisting that expressions of sympathy by authorities are insufficient. Gumi, in a statement shared on Sunday, questioned the conduct of military operations and demanded accountability from those responsible for the strikes. “Terror cannot be fought with another terror. There should be an immediate Senate hearing on these so-called ‘mistakes’ involving the bombing of villages, markets and other civilian targets. We need answers, not condolences,” he said. The cleric specifically queried the identities and actions of…

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old man, Otamiri Prince, over his alleged involvement in the kidnapping and rape of a young woman in Port Harcourt. The command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the suspect was apprehended following a complaint lodged on April 11, 2026. According to the police, the victim, identified as Alice Thomas, was allegedly lured by a man she met on social media to a meeting point in Port Harcourt before she was deceitfully transported to Igwuruta. She was subsequently taken by the suspect and his accomplices to a bush…

The Amnesty International has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s deepening insecurity, revealing that no fewer than 1,100 persons were kidnapped across northern parts of the country between January and April 2026. In a statement on Sunday, the rights organisation described the wave of abductions as alarming, warning that it reflects a growing failure of authorities to safeguard lives and property in vulnerable communities. According to the group, victims of the abductions are often subjected to brutal treatment, including torture, starvation, rape and other inhumane conditions, while many remain in captivity for extended periods. The Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria,…

At least 56 people, mostly traders, have been killed in an accidental airstrike on Jilli weekly market along the border communities of Borno State and Yobe State, in what has triggered fresh concerns over civilian safety in counter-insurgency operations in the North-East. The incident, which occurred on Saturday afternoon at Jilli Market between Gubio and Geidam Local Government Areas, left several others injured, with 14 victims currently receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital in Geidam. Multiple eyewitness accounts and local officials said the strike was carried out during a military operation targeting suspected Boko Haram insurgents believed to have been…

Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has revealed that his political bloc deliberately accepted a reduced share of positions within the African Democratic Congress despite being initially offered a larger control of the party structure. Kwankwaso said the movement, which recently aligned with the ADC, was first offered 80 per cent of party positions but opted for a 60–40 arrangement in favour of inclusiveness and broader participation. Speaking at a gathering of Kwankwasiyya members in Kano at the weekend, the former governor said the decision was strategic and consistent with the group’s long-standing…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 93-year-old great-grandfather, a 69-year-old medical doctor, and several other suspects in a sweeping nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks spanning Abia, Lagos, Kano, Ogun, Edo, Niger, Imo and other states. The arrests, carried out in a series of intelligence-led operations over the past weeks, also led to the interception of large consignments of cocaine, skunk and pharmaceutical opioids, including multiple arrests linked to an alleged international trafficking syndicate. According to the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the operations exposed “deeply embedded local collaborators” working with…

… Allegedly Ignored Legal Advice On Mark, Aregbesola Delisting …Controversial Redeployment Raises Bias Concerns Ahead Of Osun Poll …Commission Denies Partisanship, Disowns Statement Controversy Daud Olatunji The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, is enmeshed in a fresh controversy following multiple allegations ranging from alleged disregard for legal advice to claims of partisanship and procedural breaches within the electoral body. An investigation by PLATFORM TIMES revealed that the developments, which have unsettled top officials within the commission, have further heightened concerns over INEC’s neutrality ahead of critical elections. Allegation 1: Ignoring Legal Advice on ADC…

The senatorial ambition of Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, may be facing a major setback as a pending court case challenging his academic credentials gathers momentum, with opposition parties and civil society actors escalating the legal battle. Findings by PLATFORM TIMES revealed that the governor has yet to respond to the allegations contained in the suit filed before the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, raising concerns over the potential implications for his reported bid for the Ogun East Senatorial District. The case, instituted by the Human Global Resource Initiative and two other plaintiffs, is marked FHC/L/CS/291/2026 and lists the Independent…

The Media Team of the Sultan of Sokoto has dismissed as false a viral social media post alleging that Hyacinth Alia was pictured worshipping the monarch, describing the image as “fake, misleading and dangerous.” In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka, the team said the image, widely circulated on WhatsApp and other platforms, was “likely AI-generated” and deliberately designed to misinform the public and stoke religious and ethnic tensions amid the security challenges in Benue State. The statement noted that the accompanying narrative falsely attempted to link the Sultan to the crisis in the state,…

Fawaz Adebisi The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has honoured outstanding students in the 2025 National Art and Essay Competition with an educational eco-tour of Abeokuta, Ogun State, as part of efforts to deepen environmental awareness among young Nigerians. The competition, organised in collaboration with the Amb. Aduke Alakija Memorial Programme, drew entries from across the country, tasking students to creatively express solutions to environmental challenges under the theme “Heal the Earth.” Participants submitted essays and artworks highlighting issues such as deforestation, pollution, climate change, and unsustainable resource use, while also proposing practical interventions to address environmental degradation. A total…