Operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, have foiled a suspected arms trafficking operation in Gombe State, arresting two alleged couriers and recovering sophisticated weapons, including Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) warheads.
In a statement, the Service said the suspects, Muhammed Alhaji Mohammed, 55, and Sani Gesha, 47, were intercepted at Mararaban Tula in Kaltungo Local Government Areale travelling in a grey Toyota Corolla with registration number Taraba JAL475YQ.
According to the statement, “The suspects were apprehended following actionable intelligence and sustained surveillance on a suspected arms supply network operating within the North-East corridor.”
Items recovered from the vehicle include two RPG warheads, an RPG launcher and other weapons.
Security sources disclosed that the arrests followed three weeks of covert monitoring targeting a network believed to be operating across Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Adamawa states.
The suspects reportedly confessed during preliminary interrogation that the weapons were to be delivered to a contact in Kukawa Village, Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
In a related development, DSS operatives also rescued a six-year-old boy, Mohammed Jabir, who was allegedly lured and kidnapped under the pretext of teaching him how to ride a motorcycle.
The Service confirmed that a suspect, identified as Salisu Hussain, has been taken into custody.
“The child has been safely reunited with his parents, while investigations are ongoing,” the DSS stated.
The agency further noted that all suspects remain in custody and “will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.”
DSS dismantles arms trafficking ring in Gombe, recovers RPG warheads
