Civil society group, Civil–Military Cooperation (CIMICO), has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for arresting suspected gunrunners, and kidnappers, and for recovering weapons in the process.

A statement by the group’s coordinator, Adams Otakwu, noted: “Recent sweeping operations by DSS operatives across the country has helped to stem the tide of criminality and averted what would have had disastrous consequences for Nigerians.

“This week alone, DSS operatives in Gwagwalada, Abuja, arrested one Williams Bolaji with 60 rounds of 6.72mm live ammunition. Bolaji claimed to be an officer of one of the para-military agencies.

“We commend the DSS for using Bolaji to track and arrest another suspected gunrunner called Bello Mohammed.” The statement also noted that this week, DSS officers in Ebonyi State arrested one Iloke Uchenna with 350 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, and four suspected telecommunication mast vandals, who were planning to destroy some masts in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

“Last Friday, along the Lafia-Doma road in Nasarawa State, DSS operatives arrested one Abdullahi Shehu, a suspected arms courier, with 1,009 rounds of live ammunition hidden in two bags of maize.

“It is heartwarming that from Gusau, Zamfara State to Kaduna; and from Zuba, Niger State, to Eket, Akwa Ibom State, DSS operations have led to the arrest of several suspected kidnappers, gunrunners and other criminal elements,” the statement added.