In a significant security breakthrough, Nigerian operatives have apprehended Hamza Suruddubu, a notorious arms trafficker implicated in supplying weapons to terrorist groups wreaking havoc in Sokoto State’s Isa Local Government Area.
According to sources close to the operation, Suruddubu, a well-known arms dealer from Eastern Sokoto, has been facilitating the smuggling of firearms from Zamfara to terrorist enclaves in Eastern Sokoto. His clients reportedly include some of the region’s most feared bandit leaders, such as Bello Turji, Boka, and Halilu Buzu.
Suruddubu’s criminal activities are not limited to arms trafficking; he is also accused of facilitating the movement of crucial supplies like foodstuffs and motorcycles to criminal gangs operating in the area.
Shockingly, sources suggest that some corrupt security operatives in the Shinkafi and Isa local government areas may have been complicit in the illicit trade, raising concerns about the integrity of local security forces.
This arrest comes amid rising fears over the growing influence of terrorist leader Bello Turji in Sokoto. Recently, Sokoto State lawmaker Minu Boza accused Turji of imposing a ₦25 million levy on villages in the region, further tightening his control over local communities. Boza, who represents Sabon Birnin Gobir, has called for urgent intervention from security agencies.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, shared an update on Turji’s situation, revealing that sustained military pressure has weakened the terrorist leader’s network. According to Musa, Turji is now considering surrendering to the authorities, signaling a possible shift in the conflict. “He is now forced to release most of the people under him,” Musa said, indicating that Turji’s options are running out.
