A notorious bandit kingpin known as Alhaji Ma’oli in Zamfara State has been killed by troops of 1 Brigade in Sector 2 Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma.

Ma’oli was reportedly responsible for imposing illegal levies on residents of some communities in Zamfara state.

The Coordinator, Joint Media Coordination Centre of the operation, Lt. Col. Abdullahi Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement issued in Gusau, on Friday, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria.

The operation took place on Dec. 26, in Maisheka village, near Kunchin Kalgo town in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.

According to the statement, “The area is one of the local communities that had suffered under Ma’oli’s reign of terror. Ma’oli was renowned for always imposing illegal levies on residents of Unguwan Rogo, Mai Sheka, Magazawa, and other surrounding areas of Bilbis in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State.

“The neutralising of Ma’oli has brought relief and excitement to locals in Bilbis general area.”

“The operation was initiated in response to intelligence report of terrorists on motorcycles operating in Bilbis axis of Bilbis District, Tsafe LGA.”

It added that swift response by troops of Operation Fansan Yamma not only thwarted the terrorists’ plan to attack the locals but also reinforced the commitment to securing the area from further acts of violence.

“The operation Fansan Yamma remains resolute in its mandate to pursue and neutralise all remaining terrorists and their collaborators across the Joint Task Force Theatre of Operation.

“The Joint Task Force will also continue to work diligently alongside local communities towards achieving lasting peace and security in Zamfara and beyond,” it added.

According to eyewitnesses, the victim had just returned from church when he was killed. He had gone to buy food at a Mobil Filling Station along Enugu-Abakaliki Road when the accident occurred.

Atragic accident occurred in Enugu State capital on Friday morning, resulting in the death of a 15-year-old boy.

It was gathered that the incident happened around 8:30 am beside Nwanne Di N’mba Housing Estate, when an articulated truck belonging to a construction firm ran over the pedestrian.

According to eyewitnesses, the victim had just returned from church when he was killed. He had gone to buy food at a Mobil Filling Station along Enugu-Abakaliki Road when the accident occurred.

Eyewitnesses provided conflicting accounts of the cause of the accident, with some stating that the truck driver was sleeping, while others claimed that the truck veered off course after a Sienna vehicle made a sudden turn on the highway.

Unfortunately, the truck ran over the pedestrian, killing him instantly, while three others sustained serious injuries.

“The boy had already bought Okpa that the parents sent him to buy and was returning home when the unfortunately incident happened. He was walking on the pedestrian walkway and truck ran over him.

“His brother and two other persons narrowly survived. They have been taken to the hospital while the police have taken the deceased to the mortuary,” one of the eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters.

The incident has left the neighbourhood in shock, and an investigation into the cause of the accident is likely to follow.

The police in Anambra State have recovered a vehicle belonging to Justice Azuka, the abducted member of the State House of Assembly.

The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Mr Azuka was kidnapped on Tuesday night along Ugwunapampa Road in Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The lawmaker, who represents Onitsha North State Constituency I in the state assembly, was returning home for Christmas celebration when he was kidnapped.

Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said police operatives attached to the Inland Town Division recovered the vehicle.

He said the vehicle’s recovery followed an “intense ongoing operation” to rescue the lawmaker.

The spokesperson said the police operatives sighted the vehicle which was abandoned at Upper Iweka Road, several kilometres from the scene of the attack.

He did not disclose the vehicle’s model, but a picture attached to his statement indicated that the recovered vehicle is a Ford SUV.

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Nnaghe Obono, has charged the deployed police operatives to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted lawmaker, Mr Ikenga said.

Like other states in Nigeria’s south-east, security has deteriorated in Anambra State with frequent attacks by armed persons.

The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities.

The Nigerian government has repeatedly accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region.

However, the group has repeatedly denied its involvement in the attacks.

IPOB is a group leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria.