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 interception reportedly took place in Dawakawa, Goronyo Local Government Area, following intelligence gathering and surveillance of suspected arms trafficking networks operating across the country’s northwestern border communities.
A security source disclosed that the operation was part of sustained efforts by security agencies to disrupt the movement of illegal weapons and prevent criminal groups from acquiring arms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the source, increased security pressure on illegal arms dealers and their networks has prompted suspected traffickers to adopt alternative methods of transporting weapons, including the use of women and animals such as camels.
The source also disclosed that security operatives had identified a suspected field commander allegedly assigned to coordinate attacks and other violent activities before and during the forthcoming elections.
The Sokoto interception comes amid a series of arrests involving women suspected of participating in illegal arms and ammunition trafficking across several Nigerian states.
Earlier in the week, DSS operatives reportedly arrested a woman identified as Hafsat Umar in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
She was allegedly found in possession of 12 grenades and two ammunition belts.
Intelligence findings reportedly indicated that Umar had travelled to Niger State to procure ammunition intended for delivery to a suspected bandit leader, Saidu Marafa, who is said to operate from Kani Kawa in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The arrest brings to 14 the number of women reportedly apprehended over alleged involvement in illegal arms trafficking between February 2025 and November 2026.
The arrests have reportedly taken place across Zamfara, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Taraba, Kaduna and Plateau states.
Among the notable cases was the arrest of Aisha Mohammed in Keffi, Nasarawa State, last month. She was allegedly conveying arms and ammunition through a suspected arms dealer and kidnapper identified only as Sani.
Security operatives reportedly recovered 202 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition and three empty AK-47 magazines from her.
In September 2026, two women, Chika Aguzie and Blessing Nwamba, were reportedly arrested at separate locations in Ebonyi State over alleged involvement in supplying weapons and explosives to commanders of the outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The suspected recipients were identified as Chinonso Amobi Okafor, also known as Temple, and another individual known as B44, reportedly operating from Anambra State.
During the operation, security operatives allegedly recovered 14 wraps of improvised explosive device (IED) detonators.
In another operation in August, DSS operatives reportedly arrested Rabiatu Halidu along Abacha Road in Nasarawa State, with 501 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
Similarly, in February, Aisha Ibrahim was arrested in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State with 975 rounds of ammunition.
Earlier in January, two other suspects, Sakina Muhammad and Badariyya Abubakar, were arrested along the Wukari-Jalingo Road in Taraba State.
The suspects were allegedly found with one AK-47 rifle, 984 rounds of special ammunition, 105 rounds of general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) ammunition and 14 empty AK-47 magazines.
Previous Arrests and Convictions
The DSS also reportedly recorded several arrests in 2025 involving suspected female arms couriers.
Among them was Rahane Sanusi, who was arrested 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 women reportedly arrested during the period included Suwaiba Abubakar, Halima Umar, Firdausi Haruna, Saidya Ibrahim and Fatima Sani. Various quantities of arms and ammunition were allegedly recovered during the operations.
The arrests followed an earlier series of prosecutions involving women accused of facilitating the movement of weapons and other materials for terrorist groups.
In two separate cases before the Federal High Court in Abuja, three women identified as Halima Abdullahi, Safiya Salihu and Halima Umar were reportedly convicted in terrorism-related cases and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment each.
A security source said Hafsat Umar would also be charged before a competent court, adding that intelligence-led operations would continue to target individuals and networks involved in the illegal arms trade.
The source maintained that the service was determined to identify and apprehend suspected arms suppliers, couriers and other collaborators, regardless of their locations or methods of operation.
The latest interception comes amid growing security concerns over the proliferation of illegal weapons, cross-border arms trafficking and the activities of armed criminal groups across parts of northern Nigeria.
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