Gov. Sani lauds DSS over covert operation to rid Kaduna of illicit firearms
By: Zagazola Makama
Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for its successful covert operations that led to the dismantling of a gunrunning syndicate and recovery of a cache of arms and ammunition in the state.
Sani described the operation as a major boost to the ongoing security reforms under his administration’s Kaduna Peace Model, saying there would be no hiding place for bandits, arms traffickers, or their collaborators.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Sule Shuaibu (SAN), the governor said the DSS operation was a testament to the effectiveness of intelligence-sharing and inter-agency collaboration within the state.
“There must be some bad eggs who want to rubbish government’s efforts, but the DSS in Kaduna has done wonderfully well. This is the kind of result we get when institutions work together,” he said.
The governor commended the synergy among security agencies, noting that sustained cooperation had made Kaduna one of the most stable states in the North-West.
“His Excellency has been consistent in supporting all security agencies, and that teamwork is paying off,” the commissioner added.
Sani reiterated that the Kaduna Peace Model remained preventive and proactive, combining non-kinetic engagement with actionable intelligence. He said the approach had significantly reduced crime rates and was being studied by other states as a template for peace and stability.
The governor also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the Director-General of the DSS for strengthening the state’s security architecture, adding that Kaduna had witnessed improved coordination and operational efficiency under their leadership.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies, assuring them that their identities would be protected when they report suspicious activities.
“When you see something, say something. Together, we will keep Kaduna safe,” he said.
A security source told Zagazola Makama that the DSS arrested three suspects linked to a major gunrunning network supplying weapons to bandit groups across the North.
The suspects were apprehended in separate covert operations in Igabi and Kachia Local Government Areas.
The first suspect, aged 30, was intercepted along the Nnamdi Azikiwe Bypass in Igabi while transporting arms concealed in sacks of maize. Items recovered included two AK-47 rifles, one PKT machine gun, 220 rounds of live ammunition, and four empty magazines.
Two other suspects, aged 44 and 38, were later arrested along the Kaduna–Abuja expressway with three AK-47 rifles, three magazines, and ₦69,050 concealed in their vehicle.
Findings revealed that the weapons were destined for a notorious bandit network operating in Niger State, with Kaduna serving as a major transit route.
The source added that President Tinubu had directed the DSS to intensify efforts to dismantle the entire gunrunning ring, including their suppliers and the bandits receiving the weapons.
