The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has foiled a major terror plot after intercepting a shipment of illegal weapons smuggled into Nigeria from Niger Republic in Sokoto State.
The operation, carried out in Dawakawa, Goronyo Local Government Area, led to the recovery of 21 AK-47 rifles, four PKT machine guns and 825 magazines.
Security sources said the interception followed sustained surveillance of suspected terrorist networks allegedly planning to move weapons into Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The sources also disclosed that armed groups were increasingly using women and camels to transport weapons to evade security surveillance. They added that the DSS had tracked a suspected field commander allegedly assigned to coordinate attacks before and during the elections.
The operation comes amid a series of arrests of suspected female arms couriers across several states.
Earlier this week, DSS operatives arrested Hafsat Umar in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, recovering 12 grenades and two ammunition belts from her.
Intelligence reports indicated that she had travelled to Niger State to procure ammunition for delivery to a suspected bandit leader, Saidu Marafa, in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
According to the security source, Umar is the 14th female suspected arms courier arrested by the DSS between February 2025 and November 2026.
Other arrests were recorded in Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Taraba, Kaduna and Plateau states.
Among them was Aisha Mohammed, arrested last month in Keffi, Nasarawa State, with 202 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and three empty magazines. She was allegedly transporting the ammunition through a suspected arms dealer and kidnapper identified as Sani.
In September, two women, Chika Aguzie and Blessing Nwamba, were arrested at separate locations in Ebonyi State over alleged arms and explosives supplies to commanders of the outlawed Eastern Security Network. Fourteen wraps of improvised explosive device detonators were recovered.
Other arrests included Rabiatu Halidu, apprehended in Nasarawa State in August with 501 rounds of ammunition, and Aisha Ibrahim, arrested in Zamfara State in February with 975 rounds.
In January, Sakina Muhammad and Badariyya Abubakar were arrested along the Wukari-Jalingo Road in Taraba State with an AK-47 rifle, 984 rounds of special ammunition, 105 rounds of general-purpose machine gun ammunition and 14 empty magazines.
The DSS also reported several arrests in 2025 involving women allegedly supplying ammunition to armed groups.
The security source said Hafsat Umar would be charged in court, adding that the service would continue intelligence-led operations to dismantle illegal arms networks and bring those involved to justice.
"Like the others before her, Hafsat Umar will also be charged to court," the source said.
Comments
Add a comment