Gov Lawal Inspects Seized Arms Cache, Applauds DSS
Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Dauda Lawal, has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for its intelligence-sharing efforts with the Nigerian Armed Forces, which led to the interception of a large cache of arms and ammunition smuggled from Niger Republic.
The governor gave the commendation on Tuesday night after inspecting the seized weapons in Gusau, the state capital.
Governor Lawal also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support of security agencies, assuring that his administration would continue to collaborate with security forces to combat terrorism and criminal activities in Zamfara.
He lauded the DSS officers involved in the operation, expressing confidence in their ability to safeguard Nigeria’s internal security.
DSS operatives, in a joint operation with troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, successfully tracked down a notorious arms smuggler, Abubakar Umar, also known as Dangada, from Niger Republic up to the Kaura Namoda-Zurmi Road between Monday and Tuesday.
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According to security sources, DSS intelligence revealed that Umar was set to transport the weapons from Niger Republic to Birnin Magaji LGA for delivery to top banditry kingpins, including Kachallah Atta, Alhaji Shinge, Alhaji Nashama, and a certain Zaki.
DSS sources disclosed that the smugglers abandoned their red Volkswagen Golf station wagon (Abuja-registered RBC 731 GU) after sustaining serious bullet wounds during a chase. Inside the vehicle, security forces recovered seven AK-47 rifles, two PKT GPMG, and two AK-103 rifles. Also seized were 169 rounds of 7.62x39mm caliber ammunition, nine PKT rounds of ammunition with one chain, and 13 empty magazines.
The successful interception marks a major breakthrough in efforts to curb the illegal arms trade fueling insecurity in Zamfara and beyond.
