A routine stop-and-search operation along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway led to the arrest of 30-year-old Hauwa Yusuf, who was caught transporting an AK-47 rifle and four magazines concealed inside a sack of garri. The arrest occurred on August 14, 2024, when operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS), acting on intelligence, intercepted the suspect as she traveled from Lafia, Nasarawa State, to Katsina State.
According to the Nigeria Police Force spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Yusuf confessed during interrogation that she was instructed by Aminu Basullube, a notorious bandit terrorizing Katsina State, to deliver the arms to the Danum Madam Camp in Katsina. The discovery of the weapon, which lacked a serial number, highlights the ongoing challenges in combating banditry and arms trafficking in the region.
Despite her confession, Yusuf claimed she was unaware of the weapon’s presence, stating that she had been paid ₦130,000 to transport the sack, which she believed contained millet, not garri. She expressed regret for not questioning the contents, admitting that she made a serious mistake by not verifying the task she was given.
This arrest underscores the sophisticated methods used by criminal networks to transport illegal arms across Nigeria, often exploiting unsuspecting individuals or those in vulnerable positions.
