The Department of State Services has intercepted a large shipment of weapons and ammunition allegedly smuggled into Nigeria from the Republic of Niger, arresting a suspected female arms courier in a separate operation.
The weapons were intercepted in Dawakawa, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, following surveillance of suspected terror cells allegedly planning to move arms into Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A top security source familiar with the operation disclosed this, noting that the interception took place less than 70 days before the elections.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter, said the recovered weapons included 21 AK-47 rifles, four PKT machine guns and 825 magazines.
He said, “Less than 70 days to the start of the 2027 general elections, the Department of State Security Services (DSS) has foiled a major terror plot by intercepting a large consignment of high-calibre weapons and ammunition smuggled into the country from Niger Republic.
“The weapons, including 21 AK-47 rifles, four PKT machine guns and 825 magazines, were intercepted exclusively by DSS officers in Dawakawa, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, following intensive surveillance of terror cells seeking to transport deadly weapons into Nigeria ahead of the general elections.”
The source added that the service had tracked down one of the field commanders allegedly assigned to cause violence before and during the elections.
He also said increased interceptions of illegal weapons had forced terror groups to adopt new methods of transporting arms, including using women and camels.
In a separate operation earlier in the week, DSS operatives arrested another suspected female arms courier, identified as Hafsat Umar, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
According to the source, Umar was arrested with 12 grenades and two ammunition belts.
He described her as the 14th female suspected illegal arms courier arrested by the service between February 2025 and November 2026.
The source said intelligence reports indicated that Umar had travelled to Niger State to obtain ammunition for delivery to a suspected bandit leader, Saidu Marafa, who operates in Kani Kawa, Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
He added that the arrests of suspected female arms couriers had taken place across Zamfara, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Taraba, Kaduna and Plateau states.
The source also recalled that the DSS arrested a woman identified as Aisha Mohammed in Keffi, Nasarawa State, last month over alleged arms and ammunition trafficking.
He said she was allegedly transporting the weapons through a notorious arms dealer and kidnapper identified only as Sani.
According to him, operatives recovered 202 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition and three empty AK-47 magazines from Mohammed.
The source further disclosed that two other suspected female couriers, Chika Aguzie and Blessing Nwamba, were arrested at separate locations in Ebonyi State in September 2026.
They were allegedly involved in supplying weapons and explosives to commanders of the outlawed Eastern Security Network, including Chinonso Amobi Okafor, popularly known as Temple, and another suspect identified as B44, who were reportedly based in Anambra State.
The operation also led to the recovery of 14 wraps of improvised explosive device detonators, the source said.