The Department of State Services (DSS) has intercepted a consignment of weapons and ammunition allegedly smuggled into Nigeria from the Niger Republic through Sokoto State.
Security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this in a post on X, stating that the operation was carried out on Tuesday, November 10, at Dawakawa in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The intercepted consignment comprised 21 AK-47 rifles, four PKT machine guns and 825 magazines. The weapons were reportedly transported on camels through remote routes and difficult terrain in an attempt to evade security surveillance.
According to the report, the operation followed intelligence gathering and surveillance of suspected terrorist networks believed to be involved in arms trafficking.
The interception was part of efforts to disrupt the movement of illegal weapons into the country and identify those involved in supplying arms to suspected armed groups.
In a related development, DSS operatives had, days earlier, arrested a suspected female arms courier, identified as Hafsat Umar, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Umar was allegedly found in possession of 12 grenades and two ammunition belts. She was suspected of sourcing ammunition for delivery to a suspected bandit leader, Saidu Marafa, in Kani Kawa, Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
A security source disclosed that the suspect would be charged to court, adding that the DSS would rely on intelligence at its disposal to track down other individuals involved in criminal activities.
The source further maintained that Umar would face prosecution, just like other suspects previously arrested in connection with arms trafficking.
The report also indicated that the DSS had arrested several suspected female arms couriers in different parts of the country, including Zamfara, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Taraba, Kaduna and Plateau States, between 2025 and 2026.
