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.

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.

Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have arrested a dismissed police inspector alleged to be involved in an interstate arms trafficking network operating across parts of the country.

The development was disclosed in a statement posted on the official page of the Nigerian Army on June 15, 2026.

According to the statement, the suspect was arrested during an intelligence-led operation conducted by troops of Sector 6 in collaboration with Headquarters Operation ENDURING PEACE following reports on the movement of illegal arms across state boundaries.

The Army said the suspect was intercepted on Sunday, June 14, while travelling in a white Peugeot vehicle from Jos South towards the Makera axis of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

A search of the vehicle reportedly led to the recovery of two locally fabricated pistols, 167 rounds of 9mm ammunition, three cans of pepper spray and a jack knife.

Other items recovered from the suspect included two mobile phones, two cutlasses, a police staff tag, photographs showing him in police uniform, two ATM cards, a National Identification Number, NIN, card and N73,300 in cash.

According to the Army, preliminary investigations identified the suspect as Inspector Danjuma Yusuf, formerly attached to Nigeria Police Force Base 7, Abuja, who had been dismissed from service.

The statement alleged that intelligence findings linked the suspect to an interstate arms trafficking syndicate involved in supplying weapons to criminal groups engaged in terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

“Further intelligence indicates that the suspect 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 Army stated.

The Army said the suspect remains in military custody and is undergoing further interrogation aimed at identifying other members of the alleged network, including financiers and supply channels.

The Army said the arrest was part of ongoing efforts to disrupt illegal arms trafficking and recover illicit weapons.

The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to working with other security agencies to tackle security threats and urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to support ongoing operations.