The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested five suspects, including two foreign nationals from Niger Republic, over their alleged involvement in arms trafficking linked to the Papiri school abduction in Niger State.
The suspects are believed to have supplied weapons to gunmen who attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri village on November 21, 2025, abducting nearly 300 students and staff.
Security sources disclosed that a large cache of weapons was recovered from the suspects, including 15 AK-103 rifles, 15 magazines, and 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
Among those arrested is Yusuf Mohammed, also known as Bature, who is reportedly on the watchlist of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, alongside his associate Mubarak Ibrahim. The two were apprehended along the Zaria–Kaduna highway while allegedly en route to collect arms for their commanders.
Further operations led to the arrest of Goni Ibrahim, described as an international arms courier from the Diffa Region of Niger Republic. He was arrested alongside Tukur Sani, identified as his accomplice.
According to the sources, the weapons were concealed in a blue vehicle used by the suspects during their movement.
In a separate development, another suspected member of the syndicate, Alhaji Adamu, also known as Gado Banufe, was arrested in Yauri, Kebbi State. He is said to be a known arms supplier operating around the Kebbi axis.
Preliminary investigations indicate that all five suspects functioned as arms couriers for the gunmen responsible for the November 2025 attack.
During the incident, dozens of armed men on motorcycles stormed the Catholic boarding school in the early hours, rounding up students and teachers. While about 50 students escaped amid the chaos, more than 250 victims were taken into the Kainji Lake Reserve forest.
Following the attack, authorities confirmed that all remaining captives were rescued and safely returned on December 21, 2025, with officials stating that no student remained in captivity.
