DSS says it stopped major arms shipment in Sokoto ahead of 2027 elections
Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) says it intercepted a large shipment of weapons in Dawakawa, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The agency says the consignment came from Niger Republic and contained 21 AK-47 rifles, four PKT machine guns and 825 magazines.
According to a security source, the interception followed surveillance of suspected terror cells believed to be moving weapons into Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections. The source said armed groups have increasingly turned to women and animals, including camels, to transport weapons as security agencies step up seizures.
The source also alleged that investigators had tracked a field commander suspected of planning attacks before and during the polls. The claims about the alleged plot and the commander’s role have not been independently verified.
The DSS has also reported a series of arrests involving women suspected of transporting weapons and ammunition. One of them, identified as Umar in the account, was reportedly arrested with 12 grenades and two ammunition belts. Intelligence cited by the source alleges that she travelled to Niger State to obtain ammunition intended for delivery to a bandit leader in Zamfara State. The source said she was the 14th woman arrested by the DSS over suspected illegal arms transport between February 2025 and November 2026.
Other cases cited by the source span Zamfara, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Taraba, Kaduna and Plateau states. In one recent case, Aisha Mohammed was reportedly arrested in Keffi, Nasarawa State. Authorities said they recovered 202 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and three empty magazines from her. She was allegedly transporting the items through a man identified only as Sani, whom the source described as an arms dealer and kidnapper.
In September 2026, two women, Chika Aguzie and Blessing Nwamba, were arrested at separate locations in Ebonyi State over alleged weapons and explosives supply. The source said investigators suspected links to commanders of the proscribed Eastern Security Network, including individuals known as Temple and B44. Fourteen bundles of IED detonators were reportedly recovered.
The arrests continued through the year. In August, the DSS said it arrested Rabiatu Halidu in Karu, Nasarawa State, with 501 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. In February, officers reportedly arrested Aisha Ibrahim in Tsafe, Zamfara State, with 975 rounds of ammunition. Earlier, in January, Sakina Muhammad and Badariyya Abubakar were arrested along the Wukari–Jalingo Road in Taraba State. The source said officers recovered an AK-47 rifle, 984 rounds of special ammunition, 105 rounds of GPMG ammunition and 14 empty magazines.
The source also pointed to several arrests made in 2025, including Rahane Sanusi, who was allegedly carrying ammunition from an illegal arms dealer in Sokoto to a suspected bandit in Anka, Zamfara State. Suwaiba Abubakar, Halima Umar, Firdausi Haruna, Saidya Ibrahim and Fatima Sani were also among those named in the account.
Some women arrested in earlier DSS operations have since faced terrorism-related cases in court. The source said a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Halima Abdullahi, Safiya Salihu and Halima Umar in two cases, sentencing each of them to 20 years in prison.
A security source said Hafsat Umar would also be charged in court, adding that the DSS intended to use intelligence and continued operations to identify others suspected of involvement in the illegal arms trade. These allegations and reported recoveries remain subject to court proceedings and independent confirmation.
Oluwaseun Musa Lawal is an Editor at REPORTERS ROOM with over eight years of professional journalism experience. He specializes in reporting on politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial affairs. His work is driven by a commitment to accuracy, balanced reporting, and public-interest journalism.