The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly foiled a major security plot ahead of the 2027 general elections following the interception of a large consignment of arms and ammunition allegedly smuggled into Nigeria from the Niger Republic.
The operation, conducted on Tuesday, November 10, at Dawakawa in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, led to the recovery of 21 AK-47 rifles, four PKT machine guns and 825 magazines.
Security sources said the interception followed intelligence gathering and surveillance of suspected cross-border weapons trafficking networks believed to be supplying armed groups operating in Nigeria’s North-West.
The suspected traffickers reportedly used camels to transport the weapons through remote routes and difficult terrain in an attempt to evade security surveillance.
The development comes as security agencies intensify operations to dismantle illegal arms networks and prevent the proliferation of firearms ahead of the 2027 general elections, scheduled to begin with presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027.
A security source disclosed that increasing interceptions of illegal weapons across the country had forced some criminal networks to adopt unconventional methods of transporting firearms and ammunition, including the use of women and beasts of burden.
The source further claimed that intelligence operatives had identified and tracked one of the field commanders allegedly assigned to coordinate attacks and cause widespread violence before and during the elections.
DSS ARRESTS FEMALE ARMS COURIER WITH GRENADES IN ZAMFARA
In a related development, DSS operatives reportedly arrested another suspected female arms courier, Hafsat Umar, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State earlier in the week.
Twelve grenades and two ammunition belts were allegedly recovered from the suspect.
According to security sources, Umar is the 14th female suspected illegal arms courier arrested by the Service between February 2025 and November 2026.
Preliminary intelligence reportedly indicated that she had travelled to Niger State to source ammunition allegedly intended for delivery to a notorious bandit leader, Saidu Marafa, said to operate from Kani Kawa in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The arrests of suspected female couriers have reportedly extended across Zamfara, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Taraba, Kaduna and Plateau states.
Among the notable arrests was that of Aisha Mohammed, who was apprehended in Keffi, Nasarawa State, last month while allegedly conveying ammunition through an arms dealer and suspected kidnapper identified as Sani.
Officers reportedly recovered 202 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition and three empty magazines from her.
In September 2026, two other suspected female couriers, Chika Aguzie and Blessing Nwamba, were arrested at separate locations in Ebonyi State over alleged involvement in the supply of weapons and explosives to commanders of the proscribed Eastern Security Network (ESN), including Chinonso Amobi Okafor, also known as Temple, and another individual identified as B44.
Fourteen wraps of improvised explosive device (IED) detonators were reportedly recovered during the operations.
In August, DSS operatives arrested Rabiatu Halidu along Abacha Road in Nasarawa State with 501 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
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Similarly, in February, Aisha Ibrahim was arrested in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State with 975 rounds of ammunition.
Earlier in January, Sakina Muhammad and Badariyya Abubakar were apprehended along the Wukari-Jalingo Road in Taraba State. Recovered from them were one AK-47 rifle, 984 rounds of special ammunition, 105 rounds of general-purpose machine gun ammunition and 14 empty magazines.
The Service also recorded several arrests in 2025 involving suspected female arms couriers, including Rahane Sanusi, Suwaiba Abubakar, Halima Umar, Firdausi Haruna, Saidya Ibrahim and Fatima Sani.
CUSTOMS INTERCEPTS HUNDREDS OF RIFLES AT TIN CAN ISLAND PORT
The latest Sokoto interception comes against the backdrop of several major arms seizures recorded by Nigerian security and law enforcement agencies in 2026.
One of the significant developments occurred at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, where the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted 399 Jojef firearms and associated firearm components.
On August 17, 2026, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced the handover of the recovered firearms to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), under the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The interception followed intelligence-led investigations into the suspected illegal importation of firearms through the port.
Customs subsequently arrested an importer and a female clearing agent in connection with the alleged importation.
The seizure underscored growing concerns over the use of Nigeria’s maritime corridors to introduce prohibited firearms into the country.
In a related development, the Customs Service also handed over 204 seized pump-action rifles to the NCCSALW in September, following investigations into another firearms interception involving imported weapons.
FG REPORTS RECOVERY OF 5,449 FIREARMS, DESTROYS 1,419 ILLICIT WEAPONS
In another major disclosure, the Federal Government announced that 5,449 firearms had been recovered through various security and law enforcement