Author: Platform Times Newspaper

…43 children arrested as authorities target 2,500 minors, 10,000 adult addicts Zainab Abioye The Kano State Multi-Agency Taskforce on Drug Abuse and Trafficking has uncovered an alarming pattern of substance abuse involving minors, with 43 children arrested for drug-related offences and other crimes across the state. The development, according to the taskforce, has exposed the growing recruitment of children into illicit activities, including the distribution of prohibited substances and theft. Chairman of the taskforce, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, disclosed this in an interview with Daily Trust, saying two adults had been convicted and sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment each for…

Daud Olatunji A newborn baby has been allegedly stolen from a residence in Sabon Gari New Extension, Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State, after a woman reportedly gained access to the family by posing as a relative. The incident occurred on Sunday when the unidentified woman visited the residence and allegedly introduced herself as a distant relation of the baby’s father. According to local sources, the woman was a stranger to the family but succeeded in gaining the confidence of the baby’s mother after claiming to have come from the father’s side of the family. She allegedly used…

…4.1bn shares offered at ₦525 each as refinery targets over ₦2tn from investors Toyyibah Quasim President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has said ordinary Nigerians, including drivers, cooks, traders, servants and managers, will have the opportunity to become shareholders in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals. Dangote made the disclosure on Monday in Lagos while signing the registration documents for the proposed Initial Public Offering of the refinery, describing the exercise as an “IPO for the people.” The proposed offering involves 4.1 billion ordinary shares at ₦525 per share, with the company targeting slightly more than ₦2tn from the…

…Threatens legal action over alleged unsubstantiated allegation Daud Olatunji The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has given the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), seven days to provide evidence backing his allegation that the former governor planned killings in Southern Kaduna or publicly retract the claim and apologise. The family also threatened legal action against the minister if he fails to meet the demand within the stipulated period. The ultimatum was contained in a statement issued on Monday by El-Rufai’s son and member representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, on behalf of the family.…

Daud Olatunji The Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party Deputy Governorship Candidate, Hajia (Dr.) ’Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, has challenged opposition politicians to brace for defeat in the 2027 elections, declaring that the PDP is confident of sweeping the polls. Kolapo, however, assured opposition members that they would not be victimised or abandoned if the PDP emerged victorious, saying politics should not destroy the bonds among the people of Ogun State. She spoke while addressing more than 1,000 PDP members during the party’s Ijemo Zone meeting in Ward 5, Abeokuta South, where party leaders and stakeholders from across the constituency rallied support for…

…How Multiple Tickets, Space Charges, Taxes, Levies, Market Contributions Burden Traders Despite Govt’s Ban On Illegal Collections Daud Olatunji In the bustling markets of Ogun State, where traders are already battling inflation, declining purchasing power and rising operating costs, a maze of tickets, levies, space charges, taxes and other payments appears to be adding to their burden. An investigation by PLATFORM TIMES across Sango Main Market, Ifo Main Market, Agbado Main Market, Lafenwa Main Market, Kuto Main Market, Panseke Main Market, Tube Main Market, Lusada Main Market, Sagamu Main Market and Ita-Osu Main Market in Ijebu-Ode found traders operating under…

Daud Olatunji Families of serving and deceased police officers residing at the Kontagora Road quarters in Gawon Nama, Sokoto State, on Sunday protested the demolition of their homes, alleging that the exercise was carried out without due notice. The protesters, mostly wives and children of police officers, said a bulldozer accompanied by personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps arrived at the premises in the early hours of Sunday and began pulling down structures, including the perimeter fence. They subsequently took to the streets with placards, calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Rilwan Tunde Disu, and other relevant…

Suliat Lawal A Nigerian-British businessman and social media influencer, Igho Ubiribo, has died after undergoing a penis enlargement procedure during a luxury holiday in Thailand. Ubiribo, 43, reportedly suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism after doctors injected about 40 millilitres of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine into his penis at an unnamed clinic in Bangkok. Findings from an inquest in the United Kingdom revealed that the businessman underwent the procedure in March while on holiday in Thailand with his wife, Danielle Simba Allen. According to evidence presented at the inquest, Ubiribo and his wife returned to their Marriott hotel after the procedure,…

…Withdraws leader’s traditional title, orders return of palace headgear Daud Olatunji The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has suspended the Isikhuan royal praise singers group for allegedly violating palace rules and sacred Benin traditional customs. The suspension followed the group’s appearance at the 92nd birthday celebration of the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, where the singers reportedly performed a traditional rendition reserved exclusively for the monarch. The Chief Press Secretary to the Oba, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Benin City on Sunday. According to the statement, the performance took…

Ayomide Awe The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has vowed to hold Governor Seyi Makinde accountable for alleged expenditure of state resources on his 2027 presidential ambition. The party, in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Wasiu Sadare, on Sunday, described Makinde’s presidential bid on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement as a political “charade,” insisting that he lacked the experience, strategy and qualities required to become Nigeria’s President. The APC alleged that the governor was using public resources to pursue an ambition that, according to the party, was unlikely to succeed. It warned that…