The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested two foreign nationals and three Nigerians over their alleged involvement in supplying weapons used by gunmen responsible for the abduction of students and staff at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State.
Security sources said the arrests followed coordinated intelligence-led operations that uncovered an arms trafficking network operating across parts of northern Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
Among those arrested are Yusuf Mohammed, also known as “Bature,” and his associate Mubarak Ibrahim, both suspected members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad.
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They were intercepted along the Zaria–Kaduna highway while allegedly travelling to collect a weapons consignment intended for armed groups.
Subsequent operations led DSS operatives to arrest two foreign nationals from the Niger Republic identified as Goni Ibrahim and his accomplice Tukur Sani who are believed to be part of an international arms courier network.
Officials said a search of a vehicle used by the suspects uncovered a large cache of weapons, including assault rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition, concealed for delivery to insurgent commanders.
Another suspect, Alhaji Adamu, also known as Gado Banufe, was later arrested in Kebbi State for allegedly supplying weapons to criminal groups operating in surrounding areas.
Investigators linked the suspects to the broader logistics chain behind the November 2025 attack on the school, where armed men abducted more than 250 students and staff before fleeing into nearby forested areas.
Although some students escaped during the attack, others were later rescued following coordinated security operations.
The DSS said investigations are ongoing to identify and dismantle remaining members of the arms trafficking network responsible for fueling insecurity in the region.
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