Governor Lawal hails DSS for arms seizure, notes banditry decline

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for intercepting an arms shipment bound for Zamfara State.

The DSS on Tuesday displayed the seized weapons and ammunition to the Governor at the Government House in Gusau.

A statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that the weapons comprised a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), two machine guns, nine AK47 rifles, two pistols, 19 magazines and more than 1000 live rounds of ammunition.

READ MORE: Lawal inspects seized arms cache, commends DSS

The statement also noted that the suspected gunrunner was followed by the DSS personnel from Niger Republic and was arrested on the Zurmi/Kauran Namoda highway in Zamfara State.

While examining the weapons, Governor Lawal highlighted the fruitful collaboration between the troops and the Zamfara State government in combating banditry.

“I must praise the troops, the military, the DSS and the police, for successfully executing such a significant arrest,” he said. “I want to emphasize that these successes, along with others in addressing banditry in the state, are a result of the collaboration and support provided by the Zamfara State government to all security forces.

“We will continue to support the troops in whatever way we can to encourage them to keep up the good work.

“It is interesting to know that most of these criminals are indigenes of Zamfara. They’re not foreigners and the arrested individual is not the only one. We have had more over the last few weeks, but this is the only one we are presenting to the public. Such arrests have occurred daily.

“Banditry is declining in Zamfara. We have seen that. I urge the people of Zamfara to give all the necessary support to the troops,” the Governor said.