A 25-year-old woman, Nafisa, has been arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kano for allegedly trafficking 220 rounds of ammunition concealed in a bag of garri. The arrest occurred at a major motor park in the city following a tip-off, according to DSS sources. Nafisa, originally from Kankara in Katsina State, was intercepted during a routine security check. The ammunition was discovered hidden among the garri during a search of her belongings. Authorities have not disclosed the type of ammunition or the intended destination of the consignment. The DSS has not linked the suspect to any known terrorist or criminal group as of yet. Investigations are ongoing to determine how she obtained the rounds and whether she was acting alone. Nafisa remains in custody at a DSS facility in Kano. No court date has been set, and no formal charges have been filed. The agency has not released information on possible connections to wider networks or prior surveillance. Security agencies in the northwest have intensified checks on interstate movement following a rise in armed attacks in recent months.
When a young woman from Katsina is caught smuggling 220 rounds in garri, it exposes how everyday goods are being weaponized in Nigeria's security crisis. This is not just a case of one suspect but a sign that trafficking networks are exploiting common food items to move arms across borders. The DSS must now trace whether this was a lone act or part of a broader pattern of concealment using commercial channels. If the latter, then food transport systems in the north may need urgent scrutiny.
