DSS Intercepts Arms Shipment From Niger Republic, Arrests Female Courier In Sokoto

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

The operation, according to a security source, was carried out by DSS operatives in Dawakawa, Goronyo Local Government Area, following surveillance of suspected terror networks allegedly planning to move weapons into the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The source said the interception was part of intensified efforts by the Service to disrupt illegal arms trafficking and prevent armed groups from acquiring weapons for attacks.

The source further disclosed that some criminal networks had resorted to using women and beasts of burden, including camels, to transport weapons in an attempt to evade security checks.

The DSS was also said to have tracked a suspected field commander allegedly assigned to coordinate attacks before and during the elections.

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

Twelve grenades and two ammunition belts were reportedly recovered from her.

Intelligence findings, according to the source, indicated that Umar had travelled to Niger State to obtain ammunition allegedly intended for delivery to a notorious bandit leader, Saidu Marafa, said to operate from Kani Kawa in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The source described Umar as the 14th female suspected illegal arms courier arrested by the DSS between February 2025 and November 2026, with previous operations recorded in Zamfara, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Taraba, Kaduna and Plateau states.

Among the recent arrests cited was that of Aisha Mohammed, who was apprehended in Keffi, Nasarawa State, last month while allegedly conveying 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.

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

The alleged recipients were identified as Chinonso Amobi Okafor, also known as Temple, and another suspect known as B44, reportedly based in Anambra State. Fourteen wraps of improvised explosive device detonators were recovered during the operation.

Other arrests highlighted by the source included Rabiatu Halidu, who was reportedly arrested in August along Abacha Road in Nasarawa State with 501 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and Aisha Ibrahim, arrested in Tsafe, Zamfara State, in February with 975 rounds of ammunition.

In January, Sakina Muhammad and Badariyya Abubakar were arrested along the Wukari-Jalingo Road in Taraba State. The DSS reportedly recovered one 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 allegedly caught 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 of Zamfara State.

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

The security source also recalled that the Federal High Court in Abuja had convicted some female arms couriers in terrorism-related cases earlier in the year.

In one of the cases, three women identified as Halima Abdullahi, Safiya Salihu and Halima Umar were reportedly sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment each after being arraigned by the DSS on terrorism-related charges.

The source said Hafsat Umar would also be charged to court, adding that the Service would deploy available intelligence to identify and apprehend other individuals allegedly involved in illegal arms trafficking.

The DSS, the source maintained, would sustain intelligence-led operations and tactical interventions to dismantle arms supply networks and bring those responsible to justice.