Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State have arrested a woman suspected of ferrying live ammunition destined for bandit groups operating in the region. The arrest occurred during a routine stop-and-search operation along the Tsafe–Gusau highway on Wednesday, 5 November 2025.

The suspect, whose identity has been withheld, is believed to be a resident of Birnin Magaji Local Government Area. She was apprehended with live rounds concealed in her luggage while travelling through the area. The chairman of Tsafe LGA, Malam Garba Shehu, commended the NDLEA operatives for the arrest, describing it as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to disrupt arms flows into bandit hideouts.

According to the local government chairman, the arrest is part of a coordinated crackdown on criminal supply chains linking Birnin Magaji, Tsafe, and the Dansadau forest axis. He pledged ongoing support for security agencies operating in the region.

The NDLEA has transferred the woman to a secure facility for further investigation. Security forces are now working to trace the source of the ammunition and the intended recipients among bandit networks. This move comes amid increases in anti-crime operations in the state and reflects heightened efforts to cut off arms smuggling routes.

The arrest also sheds light on the evolving dynamics of supply to armed groups in North-West Nigeria. Analysts say intercepting ammunition in civilian conveyances signals a trend whereby criminals turn to unconventional methods to move weapons through security checkpoints. For the NDLEA, this represents not just a narcotics challenge but an intersection of drug-law enforcement, arms proliferation, and regional insecurity.

Community leaders in Tsafe and neighbouring areas reacted to the news by calling for increased intelligence sharing and roadside vigilance. They urged residents to report suspicious movements of people or goods along highways known to service bandit hideouts. Meanwhile, the NDLEA is coordinating with military and police commands to conduct follow-up raids and track downstream links from this seizure.