The Sun
A civil society organisation, Civil–Military Cooperation (CIMICO), has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for its recent operations arresting several suspected gunrunners and kidnappers, and recovering numerous weapons across Nigeria.
In a statement by its coordinator, Adams Otakwu, CIMICO said, “Recent sweeping operations by DSS operatives across the country have helped to stem the tide of criminality and averted what would have had disastrous consequences for Nigerians.”
The group highlighted that this week, DSS operatives in Gwagwalada, Abuja, arrested Williams Bolaji with 60 rounds of 6.72mm live ammunition. Bolaji, who claimed to be an officer of a paramilitary agency, was used to track and arrest another suspected gunrunner, Bello Mohammed. “We commend the DSS for using Bolaji to track and arrest another suspected gunrunner called Bello Mohammed,” remarked the CSO.
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Also this week, DSS officers in Ebonyi State arrested Iloke Uchenna with 350 rounds of 9mm live ammunition. Additionally, operatives arrested four suspected telecommunication mast vandals planning to destroy masts in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. Otakwu added, “Such acts of sabotage should be greatly dealt with to serve as a deterrent to other miscreants.”
On Friday, June 13, 2025, along the Lafia-Doma road in Nasarawa State, DSS operatives arrested Abdullahi Shehu, a suspected arms courier, with 1,009 rounds of live ammunition hidden in two bags of maize.
In Oron, Akwa Ibom State, on June 5, 2025, DSS officers arrested four suspected members of a kidnap ring called Timico—Obed Samuel, Waribo Meshack, Simeon Blessing, and Subday Gick—who were allegedly in Oron to kidnap. The officers recovered two AK-47 rifles, six magazines, 152 rounds of 7.62mm bullets, and a gold-coloured Toyota Camry.
“It is heartwarming that, from Gusau, Zamfara State, to Kaduna; and from Zuba, Niger State, to Eket, Akwa Ibom State, DSS operations have led to the arrest of several suspected kidnappers, gunrunners, and other criminal elements,” the group noted.
CIMICO further stated, “We may be left to imagine what would have become the lot of Nigerians had the tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition the DSS seized from these persons arrived at their intended destinations.” The CSO urged the DSS to “continue doing more to make Nigeria safer.”
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