Nine suspects linked to killings, reprisal attacks, and illegal firearms in Benue and Plateau States have been arraigned by the DSS as part of security operations.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has taken decisive action against violent criminal activities in central Nigeria, arraigning nine individuals in connection with a recent surge of killings, reprisal attacks, and illegal firearms trafficking in Benue and Plateau States.
The suspects were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday, marking a major step in ongoing security operations in the region.
Two of the accused, Haruna Adamu and Muhammad Abdullahi, both from Awe Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, face a four-count charge for their alleged role in the killings of residents in Abinsi and Yelwata villages, located in Guma Local Government Area, Benue State.
According to the DSS, the murders took place on June 13, 2025, and were reportedly carried out in collaboration with other individuals who remain at large.
The charges accuse them of orchestrating violent acts that instilled fear and disrupted peace in the affected communities.
In a related development, two other suspects, Terkende Ashuwa and Amos Alede, also from Guma LGA, Benue State, are facing three-count charges linked to reprisal attacks.
These attacks were allegedly aimed at the initial terror suspects and resulted in the destruction of private property, including the loss of 12 cattle in Ukpam village.
The DSS described the actions as a dangerous cycle of violence that exacerbated insecurity in the area.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, 32-year-old Halima Haliru Umar from Faskari LGA, Katsina State, has been charged with failing to disclose vital information regarding Alhaji Sani, a suspected gunrunner, bandit, and kidnapper.
She faces a four-count charge, highlighting the DSS’s focus on disrupting networks that provide intelligence or material support to criminal elements.
In another significant prosecution, Silas Iduh Oloche, from Agatu LGA in Benue State, is being prosecuted on six counts for the unlawful possession of 18 firearms, including grenades.
The charges, filed under Section 27 of the Firearms Act, underscore the Nigerian government’s zero-tolerance policy for illegal arms possession and the threats such weapons pose to public safety.
Additionally, the DSS arraigned 75-year-old Nanbol Tali and Timnan Manjo, both from Plateau State, on a four-count charge of trading two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles without a licence.
The transaction, reportedly valued at N3 million, highlights the lucrative but illegal firearms trade that continues to fuel violence in the region.
Similarly, 62-year-old Danjuma Antu, from Jos North LGA, Plateau State, faces five-count charges for allegedly possessing two locally made pistols and firearms designed to fire 9mm rounds.
The DSS emphasized that these prosecutions are part of broader efforts to restore law and order and prevent further violence in vulnerable communities.
In a statement, the agency affirmed its commitment to investigating criminal networks, apprehending suspects, and prosecuting them in accordance with Nigerian law, while calling on members of the public to cooperate with authorities in reporting suspicious activities.
Security analysts note that such coordinated actions by the DSS are critical in combating both intercommunal violence and organized criminal networks, which have historically destabilized parts of Benue and Plateau States.
By addressing both the perpetrators of violence and the sources of illegal arms, authorities aim to create a safer environment for residents and curb the cycle of retaliatory attacks that have plagued the region.