Kaduna gov lauds DSS for arresting 54 bandits, gunrunners in Kaduna

By Idibia Gabriel

Kaduna state Governor, Uba Sani has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for the arrest of 54 bandits and gunrunners, including serving security operatives, and the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition.

The governor also praised the Director General of the DSS, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, for his efforts in repositioning the agency to address the country’s security challenges effectively.

Speaking through the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Sule Shuaibu (SAN), Governor Sani expressed satisfaction with the successes recorded by the security agency. He noted that under the leadership of the DG, the DSS had conducted 34 operations, leading to the arrest of 54 bandits and gunrunners.

He stated that, in addition to the arrests, DSS operatives had recovered numerous rifles, pump-action guns, and several thousand rounds of ammunition within the first quarter of 2025.

He disclosed that those arrested by DSS operatives during the period under review included eight suspected bandits, 22 suspected informants, four gunrunners, two human traffickers, four cyber fraudsters, two vandals, and 12 family members of suspected bandits.

“The arms and ammunition recovered include five AK-47 rifles, one GPMG, three RPG guns, and 5,000 rounds of ammunition of various calibres. Additionally, 79 kidnap victims, now in the custody of the state government, were rescued by DSS operatives,” he stated.

Our correspondent gathered that among the arrested suspects were a security operative serving in Zamfara State, who admitted to stealing ammunition meant for combating bandits in Zamfara and its environs and selling it to the bandits.

“At the time of his arrest, the operative was found with 217 rounds of assorted ammunition, which he intended to sell for ₦4 million*, they stated.

One of the suspected gunrunners, according to a security source, was arrested with 500 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition, which he planned to sell for ₦1.5 million to a buyer named Suleiman in the troubled Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna State.

Another suspect confessed that he was en route to Katsina State to deliver 1,087 rounds of ammunition when DSS operatives apprehended him. His associate, arrested in Funtua, Katsina State, revealed that he was to deliver 701 rounds of ammunition to Zamfara State.