Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA under the 17 Brigade have arrested a suspected gunrunner accused of supplying weapons and ammunition to terrorist groups operating across the North-West.
The development was disclosed in a post on X by security analyst Zagazola Makama, who said the suspect, Saidu Rabiu, 25, was arrested on May 15, 2026, in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to the report, troops acted on credible intelligence and traced the suspect to General Hospital, Batsari, where he was allegedly receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed illness.
The suspect was reportedly arrested without resistance and taken into custody for questioning.
Preliminary investigations allegedly linked Rabiu to the supply of military-grade weapons and ammunition to notorious terror leaders operating in the region, including Bello Turji and Ado Aliero, as well as other criminal commanders identified as late Kachalla Black and Yellow.
“The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing further interrogation to uncover wider arms trafficking networks supporting terrorist operations in the North-West,” Makama stated.
