By Samuel Itsede

A Federal High Court in Katsina State has sentenced a female arms courier to death by hanging after the Department of State Services (DSS) successfully prosecuted her for conspiracy to commit, aid and abet terrorism, the second death sentence secured by the DSS in the month of June.

The convict, Hauwa’u Mukhtar, was arrested by the DSS on September 16, 2023, at Jibia Motor Park, Katsina State, while attempting to transport 438 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to one Ado, a notorious bandit kingpin operating in Dunburum Forest, Zamfara State.

On 3rd June, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four men arrested by the DSS to death by hanging for their roles in the June 5, 2022, terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which claimed over 40 lives.

Security sources revealed that, in Katsina, the DSS filed a two-count charge against Hauwa’u Mukhtar
before High Court No. 3, Katsina, presided over by Justice A. B. Bawale.

After evaluating the totality of evidence, witness testimonies, tendered exhibits, and final addresses of both prosecution and defence counsel, the court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, finding Mukhtar guilty on both counts.

The judge subsequently sentenced the convict to death by hanging in accordance with the provisions of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State, 2021.

“The successful prosecution is a significant milestone for the DSS, demonstrating its capacity to not only intercept criminal actors but to follow through with decisive legal action that results in landmark convictions.’, stated the source.

It could be recalled that, about a month ago, a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted and sentenced one Halima Haliru Umar to 20 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of 302 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition and attempting to provide support for acts of terrorism marking the second conviction of a female arms courier secured by the DSS this year.

By Joyce Babayeju

Governor Peter Mbah on Friday praised the Department of State Services, Nigerian Army and Nigeria Police for their role in securing the Southeast, after inspecting a large cache of arms seized from Eastern Security Network commanders in Enugu.

Mbah gave the commendation during a visit to the DSS State Headquarters where he viewed weapons recovered Tuesday in a joint raid by DSS operatives and troops of the 82 Division, Nigerian Army.

The recovered items include a rocket launcher, two RPG warheads, three RPG chargers, 11 AK-47 rifles, over 610 rounds of 7.62x39mm NATO ammunition, plus NYSC uniforms and lanyards.

The governor, accompanied by Garrison Commander Brig. Gen. Abubakar Suru, State Police Commissioner Bitrus Giwa and other officials, lauded the “hard work and collaboration” among security agencies.

“Had it not been for the diligence and intelligence of the DSS and sister agencies, these arms would have been used by ESN terrorists to wreck havoc across the South and create a false impression that insecurity has taken over Nigeria,” Mbah said.

He urged Nigerians, regardless of political or religious leaning, to support President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to tackle insecurity. Mbah credited the President’s support to states for the “successes being recorded by security agencies.”

Security sources said the raid followed intelligence from arrested ESN members who revealed plans to attack Enugu and other Southeast states to spread panic and suggest bandits had invaded the region.

The Enugu seizure came two days before a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced five bandit collaborators to 25 years each for aiding the November 21, 2025 abduction of students and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State. The five were arrested by DSS operatives last week in separate operations.

By Bobby Oshoke

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has commended the Department of State Services DSS for arresting a suspected gun courier in Kano who was allegedly transporting arms to Katsina State.

In a statement Thursday by his spokesman Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the governor described the operation as “a major success” in the fight against banditry, terrorism and violent crime across the North.

DSS operatives arrested 30-year-old Muhammad Abubakar in Gezawa Local Government Area while moving four RPG tubes, three AK-47 rifles and two empty magazines. The weapons were reportedly being taken to Funtua, Katsina State.

Preliminary findings show Abubakar allegedly collected the arms from one Bello in Maigatari border area, Jigawa State, and was to receive N450,000 on delivery.

Gov. Yusuf praised the DSS for its “professionalism, vigilance and intelligence-driven approach,” saying the timely interception stopped the weapons from falling into the hands of bandits and other criminal groups.

He said the operation highlights the value of intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration in tackling security threats.

The governor reaffirmed Kano State Government’s commitment to support security agencies through logistics and policies to strengthen public safety. He urged residents to remain vigilant and keep sharing credible information with security operatives.

Yusuf expressed confidence that ongoing investigations would lead to the arrest and prosecution of all persons linked to the arms trafficking network.