They were arrested between March and March 26 during a joint operation with other security agencies.
Among those arrested is a retired personnel of the Nigerian Army identified as Col AU Suleiman (retd) and five other members of his gang on Sunday.
These were contained in a statement by the spokesperson for the service, Peter Afunanya on Sunday night.
It partly read, “The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby informs the public that it carried out a joint operation with sister security agencies in Kogi State on 26th March 2023. During the operation, the security team intercepted a six-man criminal gang at Gegu Beki, along the Lokoja-Abuja Road.
While the gang includes Col AU Suleiman (rtd), Barr. MK Aminu, Kabir Abdullahi, Isah Umar, Kadir Echi, and Adama Abdulkarim, items recovered from the members are One Pump action rifle; Four cartridges; One AK47 empty shell, and N11,030.”
He also said a 20-year-old suspected kidnapper was arrested in Adamawa on Saturday.
Afunanya added that a suspected gunrunner was arrested along Kubwa Expressway in Abuja on his way from Nasarawa state to deliver 432 rounds of 7.62 x39mm caliber ammunition.
He said, “Yesterday, March 25, 2023, Service operatives apprehended 20-year suspected notorious kidnapper, Haruna Adamu at Fotta village in Gombi LGA, Adamawa State. At the point of arrest, one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, and four rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered from the suspect.
“On March 23, 2023, one Aminu Ibrahim, a suspected gunrunner was arrested along Kubwa Expressway, Abuja by the Service operatives while on his way from Nasarawa State to deliver four hundred and thirty-two (432) rounds of 7.62 x39mm caliber ammunition concealed in a four litre gallon of palm oil to a bandit in Niger State. The sum of N21,400 was also recovered from the suspect.”
On Thursday, he said another suspect was arrested in Jos.
“Also, on March 22, 2023, Babangida Ibrahim, an arms courier to bandits in Zamfara State was apprehended along Bukuru in Jos South LGA, Plateau State. Recovered from him were four hundred and sixty-eight (468) rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition and N21, 090, “he added.
He added that the suspects had been taken into custody and will be prosecuted accordingly.
