On August 14, 2024, Hauwa Yusuf, a 30-year-old woman, was apprehended by the Special Tactical Squad (STS) along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway. Yusuf was found transporting an AK-47 rifle and four magazines concealed in a sack of garri during a stop-and-search operation.
Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi detailed that Yusuf was en route from Lafia, Nasarawa State, to Katsina State in a Sienna bus when she was intercepted. The weaponry was discovered hidden within the sack of garri, which Yusuf claimed to have been sent by a notorious bandit, Aminu Basullube, known for his criminal activities in Katsina State.
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Yusuf, who was initially unaware of the contents of the sack, stated during interrogation that she was instructed to transport the sack, which she believed contained millet. She admitted to being paid ₦130,000 for the job and mentioned that her transport cost was ₦15,000. Yusuf expressed regret for not inquiring further about the contents of the sack, leading to her current predicament.
In a related investigation, the STS also looked into Musa Saidu, another suspect from Igbowo, Oyo State. Saidu, who had been missing from his community for five years, returned with significant wealth, including 10 new motorcycles and 12 cattle, valued at ₦5,000,000, suggesting involvement in criminal activities. Saidu confessed to being part of a cattle rustling operation under the leadership of Haruna, operating in Birnin Gwari forest, Kaduna State. He disclosed that his financial gains were used to buy motorcycles and cattle, with the money obtained from selling stolen cattle.
These arrests highlight ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address and combat criminal activities in Nigeria, focusing on both arms trafficking and cattle rustling as significant issues affecting security and stability in the region.
