The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a 25‑year‑old woman, Nafisa Usman, for allegedly supplying ammunition to bandits. She was caught at Unguwa Uku motor park in Kano with 200 rounds of new ammunition hidden inside bags of garri and rice.
According to DSS officials, Usman purchased the ammunition in Nasarawa State and was transporting it to Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State. Investigators said she admitted the consignment was meant for bandits operating in the Kankara forest.
Usman, a native of Zango village in Kankara, reportedly confessed that she had been involved in the trade for about two months. She revealed that the ammunition was sent to her from Lafia, Nasarawa State, by a man known as “Teso.” She claimed Teso worked with a soldier in Lafia and regularly supplied her with weapons.
The suspect further disclosed that she delivered the ammunition to a bandit identified as Mallam Haruna, who is said to control operations in the Kankara forest. She explained that she was introduced to Haruna by Sulaiman, a livestock trader based in Kano.
Usman also admitted to conducting transactions worth about ₦5 million. She said she supplied ammunition not only to Haruna but also to other individuals named Buba and Abu, who were allegedly active in the same forest.
The DSS stated that her arrest followed a tip‑off and was part of ongoing efforts to disrupt the supply chain of arms to criminal groups in the region. Officials emphasised that the operation highlights the growing role of intelligence in tackling insecurity across northern Nigeria.
The case underscores the complex networks that sustain banditry, involving suppliers, intermediaries, and local contacts. By concealing ammunition in food bags, traffickers attempt to evade detection while moving weapons across state lines.
Authorities have assured that investigations will continue to identify other members of the network and dismantle the supply routes. The arrest of Usman is seen as a significant breakthrough in curbing the flow of arms to bandits who have terrorised communities in Katsina and neighbouring states.
For now, security agencies are focused on tracing her accomplices and preventing further shipments. The DSS reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and restoring peace in areas plagued by banditry.
