The Department of State Services (DSS) has intercepted a large 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 weapons were intercepted in Dawakawa, Goronyo Local Government Area of the state, following surveillance of suspected terrorist networks seeking to move the consignment into Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A security source said the operation was conducted less than 70 days before the elections and had foiled a major terror plot.
The source said increased interception of illegal weapons by security agencies had forced criminal groups to adopt alternative methods of transporting arms, including using women and beasts of burden, particularly camels.
The source also disclosed that the DSS had tracked down a field commander allegedly assigned to orchestrate violence before and during the elections.
In a related operation earlier in the week, DSS operatives arrested a suspected female arms courier, Hafsat Umar, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Umar was allegedly found with 12 grenades and two ammunition belts, bringing to 14 the number of female suspected arms couriers arrested by the DSS between February 2025 and November 2026.
According to the security source, intelligence indicated that Umar had travelled to Niger State to source ammunition for delivery to suspected bandit leader Saidu Marafa, based in Kani Kawa, Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The source said DSS arrests linked to illegal arms trafficking had been recorded across Zamfara, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Taraba, Kaduna and Plateau states.
Among the recent cases was the arrest of Aisha Mohammed in Keffi, Nasarawa State, last month. She was allegedly conveying arms and ammunition through an arms dealer and kidnapper identified only as Sani.
Operatives recovered 202 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition and three empty AK-47 magazines from her.
In September, two suspected female couriers, Chika Aguzie and Blessing Nwamba, were arrested separately in Ebonyi State over alleged involvement in supplying weapons and explosives to commanders of the outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The suspects were allegedly linked to Chinonso Amobi Okafor, also known as Temple, and another commander identified as B44. Fourteen wraps of improvised explosive device detonators were reportedly recovered.
In August, the DSS arrested Rabiatu Halidu in Katu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State with 501 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
Earlier in February, Aisha Ibrahim was arrested in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State with 975 rounds of ammunition.
In January, Sakina Muhammad and Badariyya Abubakar were arrested along the Wukari-Jalingo Road in Taraba State. They were allegedly found with one AK-47 rifle, 984 rounds of special ammunition, 105 rounds of general-purpose machine gun ammunition and 14 empty AK-47 magazines.
The DSS also recorded several arrests in 2025 involving suspected female arms couriers, including Rahane Sanusi, who was allegedly caught transporting ammunition from an illegal arms dealer in Sokoto State to suspected bandit Ibrahim Bare, also known as Baba, in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The security source said Hafsat Umar would be charged to court and that the DSS would continue its operations against illegal arms trafficking and those allegedly behind the movement of weapons into the country.
