The Department of State Services has intercepted a major illegal arms-production and distribution network believed to be fuelling violent attacks across Plateau State and parts of northern Nigeria, following the arrest of a suspected arms dealer.
According to a statement released on Sunday, DSS operatives apprehended the suspect—identified as Musa Abubakar—on November 12, 2025, during an intelligence-led operation at his workshop located in the Mista Ali area of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State.
Arms Workshop Uncovered in Bassa LGA
The operation followed credible intelligence reports suggesting that Abubakar had been manufacturing high-calibre weapons and supplying them to armed groups responsible for repeated attacks in Plateau and neighbouring states.
DSS officials disclosed that the raid on the workshop led to the recovery of several critical items used in the production of lethal weapons. These included components of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), chemicals, weapon-fabrication equipment, and other materials linked to local arms manufacturing.
The service added that the suspect confessed to producing and distributing firearms and ammunition to criminal networks operating in the region, further deepening concerns about local sources of arms proliferation.
Part of Broader Crackdown on Terror Networks
The arrest comes just days after DSS operatives successfully recaptured Abdulazeez Obadaki (alias Bomboy)—a high-profile Kuje Prison escapee accused of involvement in the deadly Owo Church and Deeper Life Church attacks.
In a separate operation, the DSS also confirmed the arrest of nine additional suspects, including 46-year-old Timna Manjol, as part of its intensified efforts to dismantle terror cells across the North-Central region.
Security analysts say the latest breakthroughs indicate a renewed push by the intelligence agency to disrupt arms supply chains that have fuelled years of communal clashes, bandit attacks, and terror-related violence in Plateau State.
Growing Concerns Over Locally Manufactured Weapons
The discovery of a functioning arms-production workshop highlights ongoing challenges related to illegal weapons manufacturing within Nigeria. Such workshops, often concealed in rural and peri-urban settlements, are known to supply a steady flow of arms to criminal groups, exacerbating insecurity in volatile regions.
The DSS reaffirmed its commitment to curbing the spread of illicit weapons and dismantling networks aiding terrorism, urging citizens to provide relevant intelligence to support ongoing operations.
