By Paul Joseph
A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, has sentenced three individuals to 10 years imprisonment without the option of a fine after convicting them for arms trafficking following their arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The convicts Sakina Garba, Ali Gono, and Ibrahim Abdulrashid were apprehended by DSS operatives between January and February 2026 after intelligence reports exposed an alleged plan to transport illegal weapons and ammunition.
According to security sources, the suspects were intercepted along the Wukari–Jalingo Road after leaving Bantaje Village in Wukari Local Government Area. The weapons were reportedly concealed in two sacks filled with food items and were allegedly destined for a notorious bandit leader.
Investigators said the recovered items included one AK-47 rifle, 984 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition, 105 rounds of 7.82mm ammunition, and 14 AK-47 magazines, alongside three POS machines and ₦200,200 in cash hidden inside the sacks.
Meanwhile, in a related development at the Federal High Court in Abuja, another suspect, Halima Haliru Umar, pleaded guilty to charges of illegal possession of 302 rounds of live ammunition after the exhibits were presented in court by DSS operatives.
Presiding judge Justice Haywa Joseph Yilwatda subsequently adjourned the case until May 8 for sentencing. During proceedings, a DSS witness told the court that the suspect was arrested in Plateau State while allegedly attempting to deliver the ammunition to a wanted bandit leader.
The prosecution also submitted the recovered ammunition, investigation report, the suspect’s statements, and cash exhibits as evidence before the court.
Leave a Reply