Court Convicts Three for Arms Trafficking in Taraba
A Grade I Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State, has convicted and sentenced three individuals to ten years’ imprisonment each for unlawful arms trafficking.
The convicts: Sakina Garba, Ali Gono, and Ibrahim Abdulrashid, were arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) and found guilty of dealing in prohibited firearms. The court imposed custodial sentences without the option of fine.
According to security sources, the defendants were arrested between January and February 2026 following intelligence reports that uncovered a plot to deliver arms and ammunition to a notorious bandit leader. They were intercepted along the Wukari–Jalingo highway while attempting to move the weapons from Bantaje village in Wukari Local Government Area.
Investigations revealed that the arms were concealed in sacks of food items to evade detection. Recovered exhibits included: One AK‑47 rifle, 984 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition, 105 rounds of 7.82mm ammunition, 14 AK‑47 magazines, three Point‑of‑Sale (POS) machines and cash amounting to ₦200,200
In a separate matter before the Federal High Court, Abuja, Halima Haliru Umar pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of ammunition. DSS operatives had recovered 302 rounds of live ammunition from her in Plateau State, allegedly intended for delivery to a bandit leader.
Justice Haywa Joseph Yilwatda adjourned the case to 8 May for sentencing. During proceedings, a DSS witness tendered the recovered ammunition, investigation report, defendant’s statements, and cash as exhibits.
Officials emphasised that these prosecutions form part of ongoing DSS operations aimed at dismantling arms supply networks linked to banditry and terrorism nationwide.
“The operations underscore the Service’s commitment to disrupting arms supply chains connected to insecurity in Nigeria,” a security source stated.
