Boy killed in Customs chase accident in Ogun

By: Zagazola Makama

A seven-year-old boy, Duro Salako, has died in an accident that occurred during a Customs pursuit along the Idiroko–Ipokia Road in Ogun.

Sources said that the accident happened on Sept. 11 at about 2 p.m. when a vehicle being chased by Customs operatives knocked down the boy.

“The victim died on the spot, and the vehicle used by the suspected smuggler was later set ablaze by angry youths,” the sources said.

Sources said that the scene was calmed and assured the aggrieved community members that justice would be done.

The body of the deceased was released to his father for burial, while investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Boy killed in Customs chase accident in Ogun

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA repel bandits’ attack in Katsina, one killed

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA, in collaboration with the Police and community watch groups, have repelled an armed bandits’ attack in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Sources disclosed that the incident happened at about 9:50 p.m. on Thursday when the bandits stormed Yar Makera Quarters.

The troops, supported by Police operatives and vigilantes, swiftly mobilised to the scene and engaged the attackers in a gun duel, forcing them to retreat.

“During the encounter, one resident, Aliyu Hassan, 70, of Yar Makera Quarters, was fatally shot, while another, Mustapha Ado, 35, sustained serious injuries and is receiving treatment,” the source said.

He added that the troops were combing the surrounding areas to track down the fleeing bandits and restore calm.

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA repel bandits’ attack in Katsina, one killed

Troops intensify crackdown on gunrunners fuelling banditry in Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

In the fight against the hydra-headed menace of banditry, troops of 3 Division/Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) have recorded a major breakthrough in Plateau, neutralising a notorious gunrunner and recovering a cache of arms and ammunition.

The feat, achieved between Sept. 4 and 6, highlights the military’s growing resolve to dismantle the criminal logistics networks that have long sustained armed violence in the North-Central.

The gunrunner, described as a “high-value target” by security sources, had allegedly played a critical role in supplying bandits with rifles, magazines, and other logistics across Plateau and neighbouring states.

His neutralisation, officials say, has dealt a heavy blow to the illicit supply chain that has prolonged insecurity in the region.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that credible intelligence led troops to track the suspect to a hideout where he was receiving treatment for gunshot wounds on Sept. 4. He was swiftly apprehended and later confessed to his role as a logistics supplier, even agreeing to lead troops to his arms cache.

Two days later, on Sept. 6, troops launched a follow-up operation at the identified hideout. The mission, however, was anything but routine. As troops closed in, they came under heavy fire from the suspect’s gang members, resulting in a fierce exchange.

In the chaos, the gunrunner attempted to escape but was neutralised by the troops’ superior firepower. His cohorts, badly shaken by the encounter, fled the scene with gunshot wounds.

The troops subsequently combed the area, uncovering the concealed weapons: two AK-47 rifles and two magazines, which are now in custody.

The recovery, though modest in numbers, represents something bigger in the larger security equation: the deliberate targeting of supply chains that keep bandits armed and emboldened.

The bandit gangs rely not only on local recruits but also on a shadowy network of financiers, informants, and arms dealers. By dismantling this network, the military is effectively cutting off the oxygen that sustains criminal groups.

Troops intensify crackdown on gunrunners fuelling banditry in Plateau