Nigerian security operatives have reportedly arrested Hamza Suruddubu, a notorious arms trafficker believed to have been supplying weapons to terrorist groups wreaking havoc in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Suruddubu, a well-known arms dealer from Eastern Sokoto, has been heavily involved in smuggling firearms from Zamfara State to terrorist enclaves in Eastern Sokoto.
According to sources familiar with the operation, Suruddubu’s clientele includes some of the most feared bandit leaders in the region, such as Bello Turji, Boka, and Halilu Buzu. His network is not only limited to arms trafficking but is also said to facilitate the delivery of vital supplies, including foodstuffs and motorcycles, to the criminal gangs operating in the area.
Counter-insurgency expert and security analyst, Zagazola Makama, confirmed the arrest, shedding light on the depth of Suruddubu’s criminal activities. Analysts also raised alarms about possible collusion between some corrupt security operatives in Shinkafi and Isa local government areas, who may have been complicit in the illicit arms trade. This revelation has sparked concerns over the integrity of security efforts in the region.
Meanwhile, the arrest comes at a time when fears are mounting over the expanding influence of bandit leader Bello Turji in Sokoto. Minu Boza, a member of the Sokoto State Assembly representing Sabon Birnin Gobir, recently accused Turji of imposing a 25 million levy on villages in the eastern part of the state, intensifying his control over local communities.
Bello Turji is currently in the Isa and Sabon Birni axis of Sokoto. He has even imposed a 25 million levy per village in some communities, Boza said in a press conference. Boza urged for immediate intervention from security forces to curb Turji’s growing influence.
However, in a related development, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, revealed that Turji’s network is beginning to crumble under sustained military pressure. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, General Musa stated that Turji may be considering surrendering to security forces, following mounting losses and diminished resources.
He is now forced to release most of the people under him, General Musa said.Recently, he has begun to say he doesn’t want anything; he is ready to surrender.
As security forces tighten their grip on the region, the arrest of Suruddubu marks a significant step in dismantling the weapons supply chain fueling the terror campaigns in Sokoto State.
