By Emmanuel Kwada
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Musa Abubakar, a suspected key arms dealer believed to be supplying weapons to armed groups operating in Plateau State and other parts of northern Nigeria.
The arrest took place on November 12, 2025, following precise intelligence gathered by the DSS, which pinpointed Abubakar’s activities. A DSS source revealed that the suspect confessed during interrogation to manufacturing and distributing high-caliber weapons and ammunition to groups involved in violent attacks across Plateau State and neighboring northern regions.
The operation led to a targeted raid on Abubakar’s arms manufacturing workshop in the Mista Ali area of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State. “Abubakar was apprehended red-handed with various Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components, chemicals, and equipment, which have all been confiscated by DSS operatives,” the source added.
This arrest marks another significant blow to arms trafficking networks fueling insecurity in the region. It comes shortly after the DSS recaptured Abdulazeez Obadaki, alias Bomboy, a notorious Kuje Prison escapee who orchestrated the deadly attacks on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, and a Deeper Life Church.
The DSS has emphasized that these recent successes underscore the agency’s unwavering commitment to combating terrorism, dismantling criminal syndicates, and bolstering national security.
In related developments, the DSS has previously arrested a total of nine high-profile suspects linked to attacks in Plateau and Benue states. Among them is Timna Manjol, 46, from First Baptist Church, Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State. Manjol has already pleaded guilty to two out of four counts, including illegal possession of firearms, in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/451/2025.
Security analysts say such operations are crucial in curbing the proliferation of illegal arms, which has exacerbated communal clashes, banditry, and terrorism in north-central Nigeria. The DSS has urged the public to continue providing timely intelligence to support ongoing efforts against threats to peace and stability.
Investigations into Abubakar’s network are ongoing, with further arrests expected.
