LIFESTYLE Culture

DSS Intercepts Arms Shipment, Recovers 21 AK-47 Rifles

by admin on | 2026-11-12 13:46:13

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DSS Intercepts Arms Shipment, Recovers 21 AK-47 Rifles

By Fatima Peace Haruna 

The Department of State Services (DSS) has intercepted a large consignment of arms and ammunition allegedly smuggled into Nigeria from the Niger Republic, recovering 21 AK-47rifles, four PKT machine guns and 825 magazines.

The weapons were intercepted by DSS operatives at Dawakawa, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, following what security sources described as intensive surveillance of suspected terrorist cells allegedly planning to move weapons into the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A media release by DSS states that the interception was part of ongoing efforts to disrupt the activities of armed groups, adding that some criminal networks had resorted to using women and animals, particularly camels, to transport illegal weapons following increased security operations.

It disclosed that the DSS had tracked down a field commander allegedly assigned to orchestrate violence before and during the elections.

In a related operation earlier in the week, DSS operatives arrested a suspected female arms courier, Hafsat Umar, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Umar was reportedly arrested with 12 grenades and two ammunition belts. She is said to be the 14th female suspected illegal arms courier arrested by the service between February 2025 and November 2026.

Intelligence reports indicated that she had travelled to Niger State to procure ammunition allegedly intended for a notorious bandit leader, Saidu Marafa, based in Kani Kawa, Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The DSS said its operations against suspected female arms couriers had covered Zamfara, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Taraba, Kaduna and Plateau states.

Among the notable arrests was that of Aisha Mohammed, who was apprehended last month in Keffi, Nasarawa State, while allegedly transporting arms and ammunition through a suspected arms dealer and kidnapper identified as Sani. 

Operatives reportedly recovered 202 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition and three empty AK-47 magazines from her.

More Successes 

In September 2026, two other suspected female couriers, Chika Aguzie and Blessing Nwamba, were arrested at separate locations in Ebonyi State over their alleged involvement in supplying weapons and explosives to commanders of the outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN).

The commanders were identified as Chinonso Amobi Okafor, also known as Temple, and B44, who were reportedly based in Anambra State.

Fourteen wraps of improvised explosive device detonators were recovered during the operation.

Other arrests included Rabiatu Halidu, who was apprehended in August on Abacha Road, Katu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, with 501 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and Aisha Ibrahim, arrested in February in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State with 975 rounds of ammunition.

In January, operatives arrested Sakina Muhammad and Badariyya Abubakar along the Wukari-Jalingo Road in Taraba State. Recovered from them were an AK-47 rifle, 984 rounds of special ammunition, 105 rounds of general-purpose machine gun ammunition and 14 empty AK-47 magazines.

The service also recorded several arrests in 2025, including Rahane Sanusi, who was apprehended in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State while allegedly transporting ammunition from an illegal arms dealer in Sokoto State to a suspected bandit leader, Ibrahim Bare, popularly known as Baba, in Anka Local Government Area.

Other suspects arrested during the period included Suwaiba Abubakar, Halima Umar, Firdausi Haruna, Saidya Ibrahim and Fatima Sani, with varying quantities of arms and ammunition reportedly recovered from them.

The report also recalled that the Federal High Court in Abuja had convicted some female arms couriers in terrorism-related cases. In one instance, Halima Abdullahi, Safiya Salihu and Halima Umar were reportedly sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment each following their prosecution by the DSS.

The security outfit said Hafsat Umar would also be charged to court, adding that the service would continue to use intelligence-driven operations to identify and apprehend individuals involved in the illegal arms trade.

"The DSS will continue to leverage actionable intelligence and sustained tactical operations to identify and apprehend all individuals involved in the illegal arms trade and bring them to justice," the agency said.