Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Community leaders in Katsina and Nasarawa States have commended the Department of State Services for the arrest of a suspected arms trafficking kingpin and the dismantling of a terror supply network that has been fueling insecurity across Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions. The leaders, who spoke separately to newsmen on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, said the DSS operatives arrested Abubakar Mubarak, a 28-year-old native of Mashema Village in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, on Tuesday in Magabar Jibia, Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State. According to the community leaders, Mubarak’s arrest has helped uncover an arms trafficking network stretching across several northern states, dealing a significant blow to terrorist and bandit operations in the region.
The breakthrough leading to Mubarak’s arrest came from a separate operation on Sunday evening, August 23, 2026, when DSS operatives apprehended an alleged arms courier, Ismail Lawalli, along the Keffi-Abuja Highway in Nasarawa State. Lawalli, also a native of Mashema Village, was reportedly arrested with 1,099 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 57 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, and 106 rounds of General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) ammunition. The community leaders disclosed that Lawalli admitted to conveying the ammunition to Mubarak, who had allegedly paid for the haulage. This crucial intelligence reportedly led DSS operatives to track and arrest the alleged kingpin in Katsina State. The arrest of Mubarak has been described as a major victory for the security forces, as it has disrupted a network that has been responsible for arming terrorists and bandits responsible for countless attacks on innocent communities.
A community leader in Jibia Local Government Area, speaking through an interpreter, expressed profound relief and gratitude. “We are very relieved and thankful to the DSS for arresting Mubarak. Many villagers are aware of the terror his men have been unleashing on us over the years. We are, however, thankful that the Almighty Allah has used the DSS to bring their reign of terror to an end,” the leader said. The leader also noted that Mubarak’s elder brother, Mustapha Abubakar, had been arrested earlier this year in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, over alleged arms trafficking. “Mustapha Abubakar was arrested by DSS operatives earlier this year at Gusau, with one AK-47 rifle and 20 rounds of ammunition,” the community leader revealed.
A retired security agent and community leader from an area near Keffi, Nasarawa State, also praised the DSS for its operational successes, commending the agency for its unwavering resolve to track and dismantle illicit arms supply networks. “I commend the DSS for being unrelenting in its resolve to track and dismantle illicit arms supply networks, and other actors who fuel insecurity across the country. We hope that with the combined efforts of other security agencies, insecurity would soon be a thing of the past,” he declared. The suspects, including Abubakar Mubarak and Ismail Lawalli, are currently in DSS custody for further investigation and will be prosecuted by the Agency.
The operations in Katsina and Nasarawa underscore the persistent threat of arms trafficking in northern Nigeria, where illicit weapons continue to fuel terrorism, banditry, and communal violence. The DSS’s recent successes represent a significant step towards cutting off the supply of weapons to criminal elements operating across the North-West and North-Central regions. The commendations from community leaders highlight the critical role of intelligence-led operations and the importance of public cooperation in combating insecurity. As the DSS continues its investigations, the hope is that these arrests will lead to further breakthroughs in dismantling the criminal networks that have long terrorized communities.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments