Troops of operation Fansan Yanma have killed two “notorious bandit leaders” identified as Yusuf Gwamna and Malam Ashiru in Dutsin-Ma LGA of Katsina state.

Zagazola Makama, a counterinsurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, reports that the operation, carried out late Friday night, was led by a joint security task force comprising the military, police, and other security agencies.

Makama added that acting on intelligence, the forces ambushed the bandits at a key location, engaging them in a gunfight that left several suspected terrorists dead.

A security source quoted in the report said Gwamna and Ashiru were behind multiple deadly attacks in Dutsin-Ma, Danmusa, and Matazu LGAs.

“This operation is a major breakthrough in our efforts annihilate bandits operating in Katsina state,” the source said.

“These bandits had been on our watchlist for a long time, and their elimination will significantly degrade their group’s operational capacity.”

The duo were reportedly responsible for kidnappings, cattle rustling, and armed robberies that had terrorised communities in the region.

Makama said security forces are continuing clearance operations in the area, tracking down fleeing bandits and working to secure local communities.

A petroleum tanker carrying about 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, has caught fire in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday.

Our correspondent learnt that the tanker lost control and veered into a bush, where it immediately caught fire.

The incident reportedly took place at Onipe Village, near Idi Ayunre, along the Ijebu Ode–Ibadan Road” and not along the Abeokuta–Ibadan Road.

The General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service, Mr Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident when contacted.

In his reaction, Akinyinka stated that no casualties were recorded.

He said, “The fire incident was reported at exactly 08:05 hours on Sunday, 9th March 2025.

“As soon as the address was taken, fire personnel led by ACFS Olubunmi were swiftly deployed to the scene. On arrival, it was discovered that a petrol tanker, loaded with 45,000 litres of fuel, had lost control while in motion, swerved off the road into the forest, and caught fire.

“We quickly swung into action and were able to contain the fire in time with the aid of a foam chemical compound. No casualties were recorded, but the fire affected the petrol tanker.

“The presence of the Nigerian police from Idi Ayunre Division, as well as a group of Agbekoya, was also acknowledged for providing security cover.”

Ibrahim Mahmud, a 32-year-old businessman, has been arrested by operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Abuja for allegedly masterminding a sophisticated Point of Sale (POS) scam.

Mahmud, a Civil Engineering graduate, was arrested after a detailed investigation which followed the swapping of a POS machine at a shop in Karshi last December.

The suspect allegedly used an advanced hacking tool to transfer ₦1 million from an unsuspecting victim’s account; a development that has further exposed the weaknesses in the country’s digital payment systems.

Mahmud was alleged to have walked into the POS shop of Odo Hilary, a popular business operator at Karshi, posing as a customer.

While Odo was processing the transaction, Mahmud who had engaged him in a conversation in order to distract him, swapped the POS machine with an identical one he smuggled into the shop.

Unaware of the swap, Odo continued his daily business only to notice by evening that something was amiss. He decided to check the transaction records and discovered that he had been locked out of his system.

Alarmed, he inspected the device and realised, to his dismay, that his POS machine had been replaced.

Odo immediately reported the incident to the Karshi Police Station, which escalated the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Abuja.

Detectives assigned to handle the case commenced investigation and swiftly traced a fraudulent N1,000,000 transaction with half of the million transferred to one Abdulsalam Abdulsamad, a long time  acquaintance of Mahmud.

It was discovered that the suspect funneled the remaining N500,000 through multiple bank accounts which made recovery difficult.

As the investigation progressed, forensic experts at the FCT Command looked into Mahmud’s digital footprints and discovered his elaborate fraudulent activities.

It was discovered that Mahmud’s small clothing business in Karshi was merely a front as he was allegedly neck-deep into electronic fraud, targeting POS vendors across the city.

Armed with irrefutable evidence, the police launched a manhunt for Mahmud and apprehended him on January 21.

The police subsequently arrested Abdulsamad for allegedly receiving proceeds of crime, laundering the money and requesting for his share, knowing full well the N500,000 sent to him was stolen.

It was gathered that Mahmud initially denied all the allegations against him but surrendered and confessed after the police presented evidence.

Mahmud admitted to the police that he used a hacking tool called ‘Ghost App’, to scan POS machines and obtain their security credentials.

“With Ghost App, Mahmud could steal account details, bypass PIN verification and initiate unauthorised transactions.

“He admitted to repeating this scam multiple times, making POS business operators his primary target,” a source said.

The Nation gathered that the two suspects were charged with fraud, unauthorised access to banking data and multiple cybercrime-related offences by the police.

Reacting to the development, the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) warned that law enforcement agents were actively tracking digital fraudsters and working with cyber-security experts to dismantle underground hacking tools like Ghost App.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, assured business owners that stricter security measures would be introduced to protect electronic transactions from similar cyber fraud attempts.

“This case serves as a wake-up call for all POS vendors and digital merchants in Nigeria. Cybercriminals are evolving, but so are we.

“We are committed to tracking, arresting and prosecuting those who exploit digital payment systems,” Disu said.

The police boss advised business owners to always inspect their POS devices to be sure they have not been tampered with; enable instant transaction alerts on all accounts; regularly change PINs and security codes, as well as remain cautious of distractions during customer interactions.