SAA event in Nigeria on Wed 11th March 2026

Court Sentences Three Arrested by DSS to 10 Years in Prison for Arms Trafficking 

By: Zagazola Makama 

*Female arms' courier pleads guilty to charges 

The Chief Magistrate Court Grade 1 sitting in Jalingo, capital of Taraba State, has convicted three persons arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS), for arms trafficking. They were sentenced to 10 years im prison without the option of fine.

The convicts, Sakina Garba, Ali Gono, and Ibrahim Abdulrashid, were arrested between January and February 2026. 

The sentencing came just as a woman, Halima Haliru Umar, who also was arrested by DSS operatives, before a Federal High Court in Abuja, pleaded guilty to the illegal possession of 302 rounds of live ammunition. 

The arrest of the convicts in Taraba State came on the heels of intelligence which blew the lid off their plans to transport arms and ammunition from Bantaje village in Wukari LGA, Taraba State, for delivery to a certain bandit kingpin still at large.

Security sources revealed that the suspects were intercepted along Wukari-Jalingo road with the exhibits concealed in two sacks of food items.

"The suspects were caught with two sacks of food items in which they hid  one AK-47 rifle, 984 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition and 105 rounds of 7.82mm ammunition. Also found in their sacks were 14 AK-47 rifle magazines. three POS machines and N200,200 cash" added the source.

At the Federal High Court in Abuja, after DSS operatives tendered the recovered the 302 pieces of live ammunition recovered from the suspected arms courier, Halima Umaru, she pleaded guilty to the charge. 

Thereafter, the trial judge, Justice Haywa Joseph Yilwatda adjourned the matter till May 8, 2025, for sentencing.
Earlier, the DSS' witness had narrated how the suspect was arrested in Plateau State while in possession of 302 live rounds of ammunition which she was to courier to one Sani He tendered the ammunition, the investigation report, the defendant's statements, and money recovered from her.

"The operations underscore the ongoing efforts by the DSS to disrupt arms supply chains linked to banditry and terrorism in Nigeria," declared the source.