Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Daura, Nigeria — Security forces in Katsina State have intercepted a vehicle carrying a large cache of explosive materials and arrested three suspects in an intelligence‑led operation that has raised serious concerns about the illegal movement of dangerous goods across the northwest region of the country.
Operatives of the Katsina State Police Command intercepted a Volkswagen Golf vehicle at a checkpoint in Koza village, Daura Local Government Area, during a stop‑and‑search operation conducted on January 7, 2026. The mission was part of heightened vigilance and intelligence‑driven patrols ordered by the Inspector‑General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, as part of broader efforts to bolster security along major highways and thwart the circulation of weapons and explosive materials.
According to a statement by the police public relations officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the initial search of the vehicle uncovered 6,975 electric detonators that had been “neatly concealed” within the car. The driver, identified as Jamilu Musa, 40, was immediately taken into custody and interrogated. He reportedly told investigators that he had received the consignment from a man named Najib, who is currently at large and said to have been transporting the materials from Kano State en route to Kwangolam in Mai’adua Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Further investigations sparked by Musa’s confession led to the arrest of two additional suspects, identified as Ibrahim Murtala, 22, and Sulaiman Muhammad, 35, who were apprehended in connection with the offence. Police subsequently recovered an additional batch of explosive materials from these suspects, including a total of about 7,500 electric detonators and 30½ bags of gelatine weighing approximately 2,273.65 kilograms — a substantial quantity of highly explosive items.
The seizure of these materials — far beyond what is lawful for civilian possession — has alarmed security officials and residents alike, underlining the potential threat posed by unauthorised transportation of explosive devices. The suspects all confessed to their involvement in the illegal possession and movement of the explosive materials, the police said, and will face prosecution once investigations are concluded.
Authorities are continuing efforts to locate and apprehend Najib, the alleged supplier, emphasizing that focus remains on dismantling networks that facilitate the unlawful trade and movement of explosive materials that can be used for criminal or terror‑related acts.
Security analysts have noted that explosive substances such as gelatine and electric detonators — commonly used in legitimate mining, construction and industrial settings — can also be weaponised for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other destructive purposes when diverted to illicit markets. The volume seized in this case is exceptionally large, prompting concerns over its intended use and the gaps in regulatory oversight that allowed it to be transported covertly.
Residents of **Daura — traditionally considered one of the more peaceful areas of Katsina State — expressed unease at the discovery, with some speculating that the explosives may not have been destined for the locality given its generally low crime profile. “There is no hiding place in Daura,” one local driver said, suggesting the materials were likely en route to border areas or neighbouring regions where regulatory scrutiny may be weaker.
The police described the interceptions as a crucial breakthrough in efforts to stem the flow of illicit weapons and explosive substances. They reiterated their commitment to enhancing highway security through intelligence‑led patrols and public‑law enforcement cooperation, urging residents to continue providing timely and credible information that could aid in preventing similar incidents in the future.
Security summits and strategic discussions at national levels have repeatedly highlighted the dangers of unmonitored explosive materials, particularly in Nigeria’s northwest where banditry and insurgency have sometimes involved the use of IEDs. Law enforcement success in recovering caches like this helps to mitigate risks and clamp down on networks that supply such materials, but also underscores the ongoing need for robust surveillance and inter‑agency information sharing.
As this case proceeds toward prosecution, it is expected that the courts will examine not only the actions of the accused but also the broader supply chains and regulatory failures that allowed this cache of explosive materials to move undetected until the police intervention.
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