The Department of State Services (DSS) has intercepted a major shipment of illegal weapons allegedly smuggled into Nigeria from the Republic of Niger, recovering 21 AK-47 rifles, four machine guns and 825 magazines in Sokoto State.

The operation, which also exposed suspected efforts by criminal networks to move weapons into Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections, was carried out in Dawakawa, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

A senior security source familiar with the operation disclosed that the interception followed extensive surveillance of suspected terrorist networks believed to be involved in transporting illegal weapons into the country.

The source explained that the weapons were intercepted less than 70 days before the commencement of the 2027 general elections, raising concerns about possible plans by armed groups to disrupt the electoral process.

The recovered items comprised 21 AK-47 rifles, four PKT machine guns and 825 magazines.

According to the security source, increased efforts by the DSS to intercept illegal arms have forced criminal groups to adopt alternative methods of transporting weapons, including the use of women and camels to evade security surveillance.

The source further disclosed that the agency had identified and tracked a field commander allegedly assigned to coordinate violent activities before and during the forthcoming elections.

In a related development, DSS operatives earlier arrested a suspected female arms courier, Hafsat Umar, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Umar was reportedly found with 12 grenades and two ammunition belts. Her arrest brings the number of women allegedly apprehended for illegal arms transportation by the DSS to 14 between February 2025 and November 2026.

Intelligence findings reportedly indicated that she had travelled to Niger State to obtain ammunition intended for a suspected bandit leader, Saidu Marafa, who operates from Kani Kawa in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The agency’s operations against suspected arms couriers have also resulted in arrests across Zamfara, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Taraba, Kaduna and Plateau states.

Among the notable cases was the arrest of Aisha Mohammed in Keffi, Nasarawa State, last month. She was allegedly involved in transporting weapons and ammunition through an arms dealer and suspected kidnapper identified as Sani.

Security operatives reportedly recovered 202 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition and three empty AK-47 magazines from her.

Similarly, in September 2026, two suspected female couriers, Chika Aguzie and Blessing Nwamba, were arrested at different locations in Ebonyi State over allegations that they supplied weapons and explosives to commanders of the proscribed Eastern Security Network (ESN).

The commanders were identified as Chinonso Amobi Okafor, popularly known as Temple, and another individual known as B44, both reportedly operating from Anambra State.

During the operation, security operatives recovered 14 wraps of improvised explosive device (IED) detonators.

In August, the DSS also arrested Rabiatu Halidu along Abacha Road in Katu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, where she was allegedly found with 501 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

Earlier in February, another suspect, Aisha Ibrahim, was apprehended in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State with 975 rounds of ammunition.

In January, operatives arrested Sakina Muhammad and Badariyya Abubakar along the Wukari-Jalingo Road in Taraba State.

Items reportedly recovered from them included one AK-47 rifle, 984 rounds of special ammunition, 105 rounds of general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) ammunition and 14 empty AK-47 magazines.

The DSS also recorded several arrests in 2025 involving women suspected of transporting ammunition for armed criminal groups. Among those apprehended were Rahane Sanusi, Suwaiba Abubakar, Halima Umar, Firdausi Haruna, Saidya Ibrahim and Fatima Sani.

Sanusi was reportedly arrested in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State while transporting ammunition allegedly obtained from an illegal arms dealer in Sokoto State for a suspected bandit leader, Ibrahim Bare, also known as Baba, in Anka Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja has previously convicted and sentenced some female arms couriers in terrorism-related cases.

In two separate cases, three women identified as Halima Abdullahi, Safiya Salihu and Halima Umar were each sentenced to 20 years in prison following their prosecution on terrorism-related charges by the DSS.