The State Security Services (SSS) has reportedly arrested five suspected arms couriers, including two foreign nationals from neighbouring Niger, over their alleged links to the Boko Haram faction responsible for the mass abduction of students from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Sadiku-led Boko Haram fighters abducted 315 students and staff from their dormitories in the sleepy town in November 2025.
The Boko Haram cell was also responsible for the recent abduction of more than 40 students and teachers from three schools in Oyo State.
An SSS insider told this newspaper that the suspects were apprehended during coordinated intelligence-led operations that led to the recovery of 15 AK-103 rifles, 15 magazines and 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
The source, who shared the mugshots of the suspects with our reporter, identified two of them as Yusuf Mohammed, also known as Bature, who was described as a wanted member of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram, and his associate, Mubarak Ibrahim.
