The Department of State Services (DSS) has successfully intercepted a large cache of weapons smuggled from the Niger Republic, apprehending a female courier in the process. This operation took place in Dawakawa, located in the Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where officers recovered 21 AK-47 rifles, four PKT machine guns, and 825 ammunition magazines.
According to a security source, the operation was executed following intelligence reports concerning suspected terrorist networks aiming to transport weapons into Nigeria, particularly as the nation approaches the 2027 general elections.
Details reveal that heightened surveillance by the DSS has compelled criminal factions to employ unconventional methods for smuggling arms, including utilizing women and pack animals such as camels. Earlier in the week, another female courier, identified as Hafsat Umar, was arrested in the Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where she was found with 12 grenades and two ammunition belts. This incident marks her as the 14th female arms courier detained by the DSS since February 2025.
Intelligence indicated that Umar had traveled to Niger to secure ammunition intended for a suspected bandit leader. Other similar arrests have been documented across several states, including Zamfara, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Taraba, Kaduna, and Plateau. For instance, Aisha Mohammed was taken into custody last month in Keffi, where she was allegedly transporting arms through a known arms dealer.
In September 2026, two couriers were arrested in Ebonyi State on charges of supplying weapons to leaders of the Eastern Security Network, with evidence including improvised explosive devices found during their arrest.
The DSS has acknowledged the ongoing threat of illegal arms trafficking and emphasized its commitment to continuous operations against such activities. The agency intends to leverage actionable intelligence to ensure the identification and prosecution of all individuals involved in the arms trade.
