Troops, DSS arrest female gunrunner with 884 rounds of ammunition in Kano

Troops of the 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, working alongside operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, have arrested a suspected gunrunner in Kano State while she was allegedly transporting a large quantity of ammunition believed to be destined for bandits in Zamfara State.

Security sources disclosed that the suspect, identified as a female courier, was apprehended around 3:00 a.m. on March 14 after intelligence reports indicated the movement of illegal arms and ammunition through Kano.

According to the sources, she was intercepted while transporting 884 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition from Plateau State to Zamfara State via Kano.

The suspect, it was gathered, was travelling with her 10-year-old daughter at the time she was arrested.

Preliminary findings indicated that the woman had allegedly been hired by criminal elements to deliver the ammunition to Zamfara, a state that has been severely affected by banditry and armed attacks in recent years.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed that she received an advance payment of ₦50,000 to move the consignment and was promised additional payment upon successful delivery.

Security sources further revealed that she admitted to carrying out similar deliveries on two previous occasions.

“The suspect was intercepted following actionable intelligence regarding the movement of ammunition through Kano. A total of 884 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition were recovered during the operation,” a security source said.

The arrest highlights the increasing reliance on civilian couriers by criminal networks involved in the trafficking of arms across parts of Nigeria’s North-west and North-central regions.

Security officials noted that the movement of ammunition through key transit hubs such as Kano has continued to sustain bandit groups operating in Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto and neighbouring states.

The suspect, along with the recovered ammunition, has been handed over to the DSS for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Authorities also confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify other individuals linked to the illegal arms supply network and dismantle the broader trafficking chain.