From Kaduna State to the Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State, the Department of State Services (DSS) is being commended for the arrest of several gunrunners for terrorists.
This followed the arrest of an Itsekiri-born British Army Major and others, as well as the reported recovery of 50 AK47 rifles, six pump-action shotguns, over 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
The haul followed covert operations in Asaba, the Delta State capital; and different parts of two northern states.
In fact, a prominent traditional ruler in Delta State is under discreet investigations in connection with the Delta haul.
In Kaduna, the DSS command there arrested eight suspected bandits and 22 of their suspected informants, four gunrunners, two human traffickers, four cyber fraudsters, two vandals and 12 family members of suspected bandits.
According to a security source, the DSS command reportedly recovered five AK-47 rifles, one GPMG, three RPGs guns and 5,000 rounds of ammunitions of various calibres. The DSS operations in the State led to the rescue of 79 kidnap victims.
Another arrested suspect, the source added, is a security operative serving in Zamfara State. He allegedly revealed that he often pilfers ammunition meant to fight bandits in Zamfara and environs and sells to them (bandits).
On his arrest, he was said to have had on him 217 rounds of assorted ammunition he planned to sell for N4 million.
One suspected gunrunner told journalists in Kaduna that he was arrested with 500 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition he planned to sell for ₦1.5 million to one Suleiman in Birnin Gwari town.
Another confessed that he was on his way to Katsina State to deliver 1,087 rounds of ammunition when DSS operatives nabbed him. His associate who was arrested in Funtua, Katsina State, said he was to deliver 701 rounds of ammunition to Zamfara State.
Regarding the arrest of the British Major, he was said to have procured the weapons for a man, simply identified as Collins. Many suspects are said to be under custody, after they were picked in Asaba.
The army officer was reportedly picked in Lagos, just as he was making to embark on a flight to the United Kingdom.
The weapons and ammunition, it was gathered, were meant to cause unrest in Warri.
Media reports quoted a security source as saying that “during a covert exchange near Asaba in Delta State, operatives from the DSS Delta Command apprehended the arms supplier and several associates, seizing over 50 AK-47 rifles, six pump-action shotguns, and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
“Shortly thereafter, DSS agents in Lagos intercepted the British Major as he tried to cross Nigeria’s border en-route to the United Kingdom.
“All suspects are now in DSS custody. The DSS will carry out a full and transparent investigation and hold anyone found plotting tribal conflicts to account.’’
Some persons opposed to the delineation of the wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency are suspected of been behind the arms haul in Delta State .
On his part, the Kaduna,state governor, Senator Uba Sani commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi as Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS),
because the appointment has put the secret police outfit in good stead to tackle the country’s security challenges.
Sani position followed over 34 successful operations by the DSS in his state. The operations led to the arrest of 54 suspects, including serving security operatives.
It is not only the chief executive of Kaduna State that is praising the agency. Ijaw communities in Egbema, Gbaramatu, Isaba, and Ogbe-Ijoh kingdoms in the Warri Federal Constituency, appealed to the Presidency to investigate the arms seizure in Delta, warning that the stockpiles of such weapons could lead fresh conflict in Warri.
