The Defence Headquarters Joint Task Force North West has launched a fresh major offensive named ‘Operation Clean Sweep III’ across Matazu Local Government Area and neighbouring communities in Katsina State.

In a statement by Lt-Col. Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer of the JTF North West under Operation Fansan Yamma, the operation is in direct response to the abduction and death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar.

According to the statement, the operation, which kicked off on Saturday, June 14, 2026, aims to hunt down and eliminate the bandits responsible for the retired general’s kidnap and subsequent death in captivity, while dismantling their operational networks in the region.

The statement further stated that troops have already carried out intensive fighting patrols, intelligence-driven raids, cordon-and-search operations, and clearance exercises in identified criminal hideouts.

“We have launched ‘Operation Clean Sweep III’ across Katsina state.

“Significant gains have been recorded around Dikkawa Hills, Adua, Nasarawa, and Karaduwa areas, where several terrorist camps, logistics hubs, and support facilities were destroyed,” the statement said.

Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) have arrested a suspected high-profile arms trafficker linked to an interstate illegal weapons network.

The arrest followed credible intelligence on the movement of illicit arms across states as troops of Sector 6, in collaboration with Headquarters Operation ENDURING PEACE, executed a coordinated, intelligence-led operation on Sunday, June 14, 2026.

In a statement on its social media platform (WhatsApp), the operation said the suspect, travelling in a white Peugeot vehicle from Jos South towards the Makera axis in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, was identified, placed under surveillance, and intercepted at a military checkpoint in Makera.

A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of two locally fabricated pistols, 167 rounds of 9mm ammunition, three cans of pepper spray, a jackknife, two mobile phones, two cutlasses, a police staff tag, photographs of the suspect in police uniform, two ATM cards, a National Identification Number (NIN) card, and cash amounting to N73,300.

Findings revealed that the suspect, Inspector Danjuma Yusuf, formerly of Nigeria Police Force Base 7, Abuja, was dismissed from service and is a key figure in an interstate arms-trafficking syndicate allegedly supplying weapons to criminal elements involved in terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.

The statement reiterated that the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, remains committed to safeguarding lives and property while sustaining offensive operations against all threats to national security. It urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support efforts aimed at dismantling criminal networks and restoring lasting peace.

The Aka God petrol station located at Nkwoegwu town, Umuahia North LGA of Abia State, was on Sunday night, destroyed by fire outbreak.

The inferno, which started at about 6:30 pm, lasted for hours.

It was reportedly caused by an explosion from a loaded petrol tanker inside the facility.

Though no life was lost, the fire outbreak destroyed goods worth millions of naira in the petrol station and partially affected adjourning property.

Initial efforts made by youths of Nkwoegwu community and other sympathizers to quench the fire was not successful as balls of fire pumping up from the burning tanker overwhelmed their efforts.

But men of Abia State Fire Service who were alerted about fire outbreak,  arrived the scene at about 7: pm and deployed their equipment.

The efforts of the fire fighters eventually stopped the flame from consuming nearby private buildings, a medical facility and other structures.

Some indigenes of Nkwoegwu, Ohuhu, Umuahia North LGA, who witnessed the fire incident, thanked God that no life was lost, but regretted that the incident destroyed an investment located in their area.

Speaking on Sunday night, the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Homeland Security, Fire and Emergency Services, Chukwunenye Alajemba explained that the swift intervention of his office prevented the fire from gutting nearby houses.