A joint operation by the Department of State Security (DSS) operatives and troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, on Monday and Tuesday, has led to the seizure of arms and ammunitions for bandits in Zamfara State.
The seized items were believed to be meant for notorious banditry kingpins Kachallah Atta, Alhaji Shinge, Alhaji Nashama and a certain Zaki.
The arms included seven AK-47 rifles, two PKT GPMG and two AK-103 rifles. Also recovered were 169 rounds of 7.62x39mm calibre of ammunition, 9 PKT rounds of ammunition, with one chain; and 13 empty magazines.
Operatives, it was gathered, successfully trailed a notorious arms courier, Abubakar Umar aka Dangada, from Niger Republic up to the Kaura Namoda-Zurmi Road.
Umar was billed to convey the munitions from Niger Republic to Birnin Magaji LGA for onward delivery to bandits.
According security sources, the arms courier abandoned an Abuja- registered Volkswagen Golf station wagon car (RBC 731 GU), after a gun battle that left them bloodied and fleeing the scene.
Delighted with the operation,
Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Dauda Lawal, on Tuesday night commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for sharing intelligence with the Armed Forces which led to the successful operation.
His commendation came after he inspected the seized cache of arms and ammunitions in Gusau, the State Capital.
Lawal, who praised the Federal government for its efforts and support to security agencies, assured that his government would continue to support troops and other security operatives in the state to tackle the menace of terrorists and criminals.
He applauded DSS officers and expressed confidence in the ability of the security service to guarantee the internal security of Nigeria.