Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Dauda Lawal, has praised the efforts of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Armed Forces following the interception of a large cache of arms and ammunition smuggled from Niger Republic. The governor made the commendation on Tuesday night after inspecting the recovered weapons in Gusau, the state capital.
Governor Lawal acknowledged the importance of intelligence-sharing between security agencies, which played a key role in the successful operation. He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support in strengthening the efforts of the DSS and the military to improve security in Zamfara State and across Nigeria. He assured that his administration would continue to provide all necessary backing to security forces in their fight against criminal activities, including terrorism and banditry.
The DSS, in collaboration with troops from Operation Fansan Yamma, carried out the successful operation on Monday and Tuesday. Security operatives tracked a notorious arms smuggler, Abubakar Umar, also known as Dangada, from Niger Republic as he attempted to transport the weapons through Zamfara. The operation led to a confrontation along the Kaura Namoda-Zurmi Road, where the suspect and his accomplices were forced to abandon their vehicle after sustaining severe gunshot wounds.
According to security sources, intelligence reports indicated that Umar was transporting the arms to Birnin Magaji Local Government Area, where they were intended for known bandit leaders, including Kachallah Atta, Alhaji Shinge, Alhaji Nashama, and an individual identified as Zaki.
The recovered weapons included seven AK-47 rifles, two PKT General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), and two AK-103 rifles. Additionally, security forces seized 169 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition, nine PKT rounds with a chain, and 13 empty magazines. These weapons were found inside a red Volkswagen Golf station wagon with an Abuja registration number (RBC 731 GU), which the suspects abandoned while trying to escape.
Governor Lawal noted the dedication of the DSS officers involved in the operation and expressed confidence in their ability to maintain internal security in Nigeria. He reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with security agencies to ensure the safety of Zamfara residents.
