DSS arrests arms couriers in Gombe, recovers RPGs and rescues kidnapped child
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested two men suspected of acting as arms couriers and recovered a cache of military‑grade weapons, including Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) warheads and an RPG launcher, during a security operation in **Gombe State. The sweeping operation also led to the rescue of a six‑year‑old boy who had been kidnapped under deceptive circumstances.
According to security sources, the suspects — identified as Muhammed Alhaji Mohammed, 55, and Sani Gesha, 47 — were intercepted at Mararaban Tula in Kaltungo Local Government Area while travelling in a grey Toyota Corolla with the registration number Taraba JAL475YQ. The vehicle and its occupants were stopped after weeks of covert surveillance on a suspected bandit arms‑trafficking network operating in parts of the North‑East.
The DSS launched the operation after intelligence revealed that the syndicate was allegedly supplying weapons to criminal groups operating across Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, and Adamawa States. Security sources disclosed that the surveillance lasted for more than three weeks before the suspects were finally intercepted and taken into custody.
Items recovered from the vehicle included two RPG warheads, one RPG launcher, and other assorted weapons and ammunition believed to be destined for militant or criminal use. During preliminary questioning, the suspects reportedly confessed that the consignment was meant to be delivered to a contact identified as Ardo Hamma Ari, a resident of Kukawa Village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The DSS described the operation as part of its ongoing efforts to dismantle arms‑trafficking networks and curb the flow of dangerous weapons into hands that threaten public security. Bandit groups in the region have been known to use such weapons to carry out attacks, kidnappings, and other violent crimes that destabilise communities.
In a related development, DSS operatives also rescued a six‑year‑old boy named Mohammed Jabir from Gyada Village, Talase in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State. The child had been lured away by a suspect identified as Salisu Hussain, who allegedly promised to teach him how to ride a motorcycle. Upon receiving a report from the boy’s family, DSS personnel acted swiftly, tracked the suspect, and secured the child’s safe release. The alleged kidnapper has also been taken into custody pending further investigation.
Following the rescue, Mohammed Jabir was reunited with his grateful parents, who praised the DSS for the prompt intervention and expressed relief at their son’s safe return. The agency reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and urged community members to continue providing credible information that can help security forces thwart criminal activities.
Security analysts say the operation highlights the growing sophistication of arms‑trafficking networks in northern Nigeria and underscores the need for sustained intelligence‑led efforts to intercept illicit weapons before they reach violent groups. The deployment of RPGs and other heavy weapons among armed groups in the region has been a concern for years, as such hardware significantly increases the destructive capacity of non‑state actors.
Authorities confirmed that the two suspected arms couriers are currently in DSS custody and will be charged in court once investigations are completed. They are expected to face multiple charges related to arms trafficking and illegal possession of military‑grade weapons.
The Gombe operation, which simultaneously targeted arms trafficking and child abduction, reflects a broader push by Nigerian security services to tackle intertwined criminal threats that have long plagued the North‑East. Officials emphasised that collaboration with local communities and accurate intelligence remain key to identifying and neutralising such threats before they escalate.
Residents in the affected areas have welcomed the DSS action, describing it as a positive step toward reducing violence and insecurity. Local leaders have also reiterated calls for stronger security programmes and community engagement to protect ordinary citizens from banditry, arms proliferation, and kidnapping.
As the suspects await trial and investigators continue to unravel the broader network allegedly behind the arms consignments, the DSS says it will maintain pressure on criminal syndicates operating in the region. The agency’s success in intercepting this weapons shipment and rescuing the abducted child is being seen as a significant tactical victory in the ongoing fight against insecurity in northeastern Nigeria.
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