The magistrate court grade 1 in Jalingo, Taraba state, has sentenced three persons arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) to 10 years’ imprisonment over arms trafficking.
The convicts — Sakina Garba, Ali Gono, and Ibrahim Abdulrashi were arrested between January and February 2026 along the Wukari-Jalingo road in Taraba with arms concealed in two sacks of food items.
The DSS operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle, 984 rounds of 7.6 mm ammunition, 105 rounds of 7.82 mm ammunition, 14 AK-47 rifle magazines, three POS machines and N200,200 cash during the operation.
According to a security source, the convicts were transporting the arms and ammunition from Bantaje village in Wukari LGA of Taraba for delivery to a certain bandit kingpin, who is at large.
Meanwhile, Halima Umaru, a suspected arms courier, has pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against her at the federal high court in Abuja by the DSS.
The secret police arrested Umaru in Plateau state while in possession of 302 live rounds of ammunition which she was to deliver to one Sani.
A DSS witness had told the court that the suspect was arrested in Plateau with ammunition.
The witness tendered the ammunition, the investigation report, the defendant’s statements, and money recovered from her.
Haywa Yilwatda, the presiding judge, adjourned the matter to May 8 for sentencing.
The DSS has recently intensified efforts against criminal elements across the country, leading to the arrest of major suspects.
Shafiu Usman, a suspect linked to an attack on the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Aiyetoro, Kabba/Bunu LGA of Kogi state, was recently arrested by the DSS.
The secret police have also arrested suspects linked to the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state.
Three bags 10 years over arms trafficking in Taraba
