The Department of State Services, DSS, has arrested five persons, including two Nigeriens, suspected to be arms couriers for gunmen who attacked St. Mary’s Catholic school in Papiri, Niger State, on November 21, 2025.
Fifteen AK-103 rifles, 15 magazines, and 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
According to security sources, Yusuf Mohammed aka Bature, a wanted Boko Haram member, and accomplice Mubarak Ibrahim were arrested on the Zaria-Kaduna highway while moving to collect an arms consignment.
Sources said a follow-up operation led to the arrest of Goni Ibrahim, an international arms courier from Diffa Region, Niger Republic, and his accomplice Tukur Sani. Days later, Alhaji Adamu aka Gado Banufe, alleged to supply arms around the Kebbi axis, was arrested in Yauri, Kebbi State.
Preliminary investigations linked all five men to the attack on the Catholic boarding school where gunmen abducted nearly 300 students and staff.
Recall that about 50 pupils escaped during the attack. The remaining captives were rescued on December 21, 2025.
