In a major counter‑terror operation, the Department of State Security Services (DSS) seized a large consignment of high‑calibre weapons in Dawakawa, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, just 70 days before Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. The haul included 21 AK‑47 rifles, four PKT machine guns and 825 magazines, all smuggled from Niger Republic.
Intelligence reports say the weapons were part of a broader terror plot, with DSS officers having monitored cells that were attempting to move deadly arms into the country. The interception followed a sustained surveillance campaign aimed at preventing the delivery of weapons ahead of the upcoming elections.
A security source noted that, amid increased interceptions, terror groups have resorted to using women and camels as transporters. Earlier this week, DSS operatives in Talata Mafaran, Zamfara State, arrested Hafsat Umar, a suspected female arms courier who was found with 12 grenades and two ammunition belts. She is the 14th woman to be detained by the DSS for illegal arms trafficking between February 2025 and November 2026.
Other recent arrests illustrate the breadth of the operation:
- Aisha Mohammed – Keffi, Nasarawa State – 202 rounds of 7.62 mm AK‑47 ammunition and three empty magazines.
- Chika Aguzie and Blessing Nwamba – Ebonyi State – 14 wraps of IED detonators.
- Rabiatu Halidu – Abacha Road, Katu, Nasarawa State – 501 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.
- Aisha Ibrahim – Tsafe, Zamfara State – 975 rounds of ammunition.
- Sakina Muhammad and Badariyya Abubakar – Wukari‑Jalingo Road, Taraba State – one AK‑47, 984 rounds of special ammunition, 105 rounds of GPMG ammunition and 14 empty magazines.
- Rahane Sanusi – Talatan Mafara, Zamfara State – ammunition for bandit Ibrahim Bare.
- Suwaiba Abubakar, Halima Umar, Firdausi Haruna, Saidya Ibrahim and Fatima Sani – various locations – varying quantities of arms and ammunition.
Earlier this year, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted three female couriers – Halima Abdullahi, Safiya Salihu and Halima Umar – on terrorism‑related charges, sentencing each to 20 years’ imprisonment.
“Like the others before her, Hafsat Umar will also be charged to court, and the DSS will use intelligence at their disposal to bring other criminals to justice,” a security source said.
“The DSS will continue to leverage actionable intelligence and sustained tactical operations to identify, apprehend and bring to justice all individuals involved in the illegal arms trade,” the source added.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
