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The State Services Department has detained five individuals suspected of being arms couriers connected to militants who kidnapped students and employees from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri Village, Niger State, on November 21, 2025.

The individuals under suspicion, among them two nationals from Niger, were captured during synchronized actions in Kaduna, Niger, and Kebbi states.

A statement released on Monday indicated that the suspects were thought to have provided arms involved in the large-scale kidnapping of almost 300 individuals.

As per the statement, one of the detained individuals, Yusuf Mohammed, also referred to as Bature, who is included in the list of wanted members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (Boko Haram), was caught together with his colleague, Mubarak Ibrahim, on the Zaria–Kaduna highway while reportedly heading to retrieve a shipment of weapons.

The State Services Department (DSS) has detained five individuals, among them two Nigerians, believed to be transporting weapons for militants who, on November 21, 2025, targeted St. Mary’s Catholic school in Papiri Village, Niger State, and took almost 300 students and staff hostage.

A significant stockpile of weapons was retrieved from the individuals, comprising 15 AK-47 rifles and 1,434 live bullets.

“One Yusuf Mohammed (also known as Bature), listed among the wanted members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, also referred to as Boko Haram, a terrorist group, and his associate, Mubarak Ibrahim, were detained on the Zaria Kaduna highway while en route to obtain a shipment of weapons for their leaders,” the statement partially mentioned.

A subsequent operation reportedly resulted in the capture of Goni Ibrahim, who is referred to as an international arms transporter from the Diffa Region of Niger, along with his alleged partner, Tukur Sani.

Among the items recovered from the suspects were 15 AK-103 rifles, 15 magazines, and 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition hidden inside a blue vehicle.

Some days later, another person believed to be part of the syndicate, Alhaji Adamu, also referred to as Gado Banufe, who was reportedly involved in arms supply activities along the Kebbi route, was detained in Yauri, Kebbi State.

According to security officials, initial inquiries suggested that the five individuals acted as weapons couriers for the attackers responsible for the November 2025 assault on the Catholic boarding school.

During the assault, many armed individuals entered the school in the early morning, taking students and employees hostage.

Approximately 50 students are said to have managed to flee, while over 250 others were taken into the Kainji Lake Reserve forest.

Later, officials verified that all remaining hostages were freed and safely returned to their families on December 21, 2025, concluding the crisis.

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