DSS intercepts weapons cargo from Niger Republic, get better 21 AK-47 rifles, 4 PKT machine weapons in Sokoto

News

By Linda Ikeji
12 November 2026, 6:52 am

The Department Of State Security Service (DSS)  have intercepted a big consignment of weapons and ammunition allegedly being smuggled from the Niger Republic to armed bandits working in north-western Nigeria.

The interception, which occurred on Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at Dawakawa in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, adopted a safety operation focusing on suspected weapons trafficking networks throughout the Nigeria-Niger border.

Security sources mentioned the suspected smugglers had been allegedly making an attempt to move the weapons into Nigeria utilizing camels, apparently exploiting distant routes and tough terrain to evade safety surveillance.

The operation led to the restoration of 21 AK-47 rifles, 4 PKT machine weapons and 825 magazines.

According to safety analyst Zagazola Makama, the interception represents a big disruption of an alleged cross-border weapons provide community suspected of facilitating the operations of armed bandit teams within the North-West.Tm.

The use of camels to move the weapons highlights the more and more unconventional strategies employed by legal networks to maneuver arms and ammunition throughout porous border corridors.

The improvement additionally underscores the significance of sustained intelligence surveillance coordinated border safety operations in stopping the motion of illicit weapons from neighbouring international locations into Nigeria.

The recovered weapons are anticipated to supply safety businesses with precious leads in direction of figuring out the suppliers, transporters and meant recipients of the consignment.

Zagazola report that a number of  border communities alongside the Nigeria–Niger Republic frontier have emerged as weak corridors for cross-border arms trafficking, bandit actions and different legal actions, elevating considerations over the safety of Nigeria’s North-West.

The affected areas embrace Illela, Sabon Birni, Isa, Gudu and Tangaza in Sokoto State; Jibia, Kaita, Mai’Adua and Kongolam in Katsina; Zurmi and Shinkafi in Zamfara; in addition to Kamba and Arewa Dandi in Kebbi State.

Security considerations round these border areas are linked to porous boundaries, casual buying and selling networks and difficult-to-monitor rural terrain, which legal networks like Bandits, Lakurawa and Boko Haram exploit for illicit actions.

The improvement reinforces the necessity for enhanced border surveillance, intelligence-sharing and coordinated operations to dismantle cross-border weapons provide networks.

Security businesses should additionally goal the financiers and suppliers behind the trafficking networks relatively than focusing solely on couriers.