Operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Nigeria Police Force have apprehended a 30-year-old woman, identified as Hauwa Yusuf, for allegedly transporting an AK-47 rifle and four AK magazines concealed in a sack of garri.
The arrest occurred during a routine stop-and-search operation along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
During a press briefing at the STS Headquarters in Abuja on Friday, the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, revealed that Yusuf had confessed to receiving instructions from Aminu Basullube, a notorious bandit known for his activities in Katsina State. Basullube reportedly directed her to deliver the arms to the Danum Madam Camp, a location within the state.
“On August 14, 2024, acting on credible intelligence, STS operatives intercepted Hauwa Yusuf, a female suspect from Dutsin-Ma LGA of Katsina State,” Adejobi stated.
“She was arrested while traveling from Lafia, Nasarawa State to Katsina State in a Sienna bus along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway. Upon searching her belongings, we recovered one AK-47 rifle and four AK magazines hidden inside a white sack of garri.”
During interrogation, Yusuf admitted to being tasked with the delivery but claimed she was unaware of the rifle’s presence. “I didn’t know it was a gun inside the sack,” she explained to journalists.
“They told me to go and bring millet, but instead, they gave me garri. When I saw the object, I became apprehensive. I was paid ₦130,000 to transport the garri to Katsina, with my transport fare being ₦15,000. I made a mistake by not asking questions.”