Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has strongly condemned the United States military airstrike carried out in parts of Sokoto State on Christmas Day, describing it as a dangerous “neo-Crusade” and a direct assault on Islam and Northern Nigerian Muslims. Gumi, in a statement issued on Friday, faulted the justification given by U.S. authorities for the strike, warning that foreign military involvement would further destabilise Nigeria and deepen religious divisions. “The attacks are symbolic of a harbinger of a neo-Crusade war against Islam,” the cleric said. “Why attack Sokoto, where over 90 per cent of the population are Muslims and…

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) have thrown their weight behind the United States’ Christmas Day airstrikes on camps of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Sokoto State, describing the action as a timely intervention in Nigeria’s protracted war against terrorism. However, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has cautioned against civilian casualties, alleging that some of the strikes destroyed farmlands and private buildings in Sokoto and Kwara states. The strikes, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, marked America’s first direct kinetic military action on Nigerian soil. They came…

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested two notorious bandits linked to a spate of killings and kidnappings across Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and Kwara states, following public outrage over a viral video in which one of the suspects openly flaunted firearms and large sums of cash. The suspects, identified as Abubakar Usman, popularly known as Siddi, and Shehu Mohammadu, also called Gide, were apprehended on December 19 along the Komen–Masallaci axis of Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team. In a statement issued on Friday, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer,…

A security analyst, Zagazola Makama, has faulted the United States military airstrikes carried out in parts of Sokoto State on Christmas night, describing the operation as a case of wrong targeting with no impact on terrorist groups operating in Nigeria. The airstrikes, which triggered panic among residents, were reportedly carried out in Jabo community, Tambuwal Local Government Area of the state. A viral video circulating on social media showed frightened villagers fleeing as flames rose from the site of one of the strikes. As of the time of filing this report, details of the operation remain sketchy, while no casualties…

The Ogun State chapter of the Labour Party has faulted Governor Dapo Abiodun over the procurement of new Sports Utility Vehicles for the 20 local government chairmen in the state, describing the move as insensitive and a reflection of misplaced priorities. The party said the purchase came at a time when residents across the state are contending with deteriorating road networks, rising cost of living and poor access to basic amenities. In a statement issued on Thursday and made available to journalists, the state chairman of the party, High Chief Oluwabukola Soyoye, criticised the Abiodun-led administration for what she described…

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a scathing attack on Governor Dapo Abiodun over his Christmas presentation of 20 Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to local government council chairmen, describing the gesture as a “brazen affront” to local government autonomy and transparent grassroots administration. In a statement issued on Friday, by its Publicity Secretary, Otunba Arc. Kayode Adebayo, the opposition party alleged that the gift was suspicious and smacked of quid pro quo, warning that it could amount to trading luxury vehicles for statutory rights and financial allocations due to the councils. The PDP accused…

A prominent grassroots political advocate, Chief Olalekan  Shoyinka, popularly known as Ayinla Egba, has commended Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for gifting brand-new 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross vehicles to local government chairmen across the state, but warned that the gesture has reopened critical questions about the autonomy and funding of local councils. Shoyinka, the Convener of the United Premier Movement (UPM), Abeokuta, in a statement on Thursday, described the Christmas Day presentation of the vehicles as a “commendable and symbolic” act that reflects the governor’s recognition of grassroots administrators and fulfilment of a campaign promise. He noted that the gesture,…

Residents Fear Reprisals, Beg Govt, Security Agencies For Urgent Intervention Residents of Kaya village in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been thrown into panic after armed bandits imposed an ₦8 million levy on the community, following the killing of a notorious bandit commander during a recent security operation. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the threat, issued on Tuesday, was a reprisal over the death of one Isuhu Buzu, a feared bandit leader neutralised during a joint operation involving the Zamfara State Community Protection Guard and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force. Multiple sources in the area…

Nigeria’s internet consumption surged to an all-time high of 1.24 million terabytes in November 2025, the Nigerian Communications Commission has disclosed, underscoring the country’s deepening reliance on digital connectivity for business, education and entertainment. Latest industry data released by the telecoms regulator showed that the figure rose slightly from 1.235 million terabytes recorded in October, continuing a steady upward trend driven by expanding mobile broadband access and rising data demand nationwide. Industry analysts attributed the growth to increased smartphone penetration, wider deployment of 3G and 4G networks, limited rollout of 5G services in major cities, and Nigerians’ growing appetite for…

Five members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing insecurity, internal crises within their former party and alleged constitutional breaches in the Assembly. The lawmakers are Nasiru Abdullahi Maru (Maru North), Bashir Abubakar (Bukkuyum North), Bashir Bello (Bungudu West), Amiru Ahmad Keta (Tsafe West) and Muktar Nasir Kaura (Kaura North). Their defection letters were read on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Bilyaminu Moriki Gummi, during plenary on Tuesday. In a strong indictment of the current leadership of the…