The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested an Aviation Security officer and two other suspects over alleged involvement in cash and gold smuggling at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

A statement by EFCC said the suspects, Ali Baffa, an Inspector 1 with Aviation Security (AVSEC), along with Aushabu Nasidi and Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria were arrested by operatives of the Kano Zonal Directorate of the EFCC during an operation at the airport.

According to the agency, the arrests were made on Friday, June 11, 2026, during what the commission described as a routine surveillance exercise by the Land and Property Fraud Section of the Kano Zonal Directorate.

The operation followed a directive from the EFCC Executive Chairman ordering all zonal offices to step up enforcement against the smuggling of mineral resources and bulk cash through international airports.

According to initial findings, Ali Baffa allegedly hid 22.2 kilograms of unprocessed gold bars, valued at over N4.4 billion, inside his trousers with the intention of evading security checks. The gold was allegedly meant to be handed over to passengers travelling out of the country for illegal export.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Aushabu Nasidi, who was alleged to have supplied the gold bars to Baffa. At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly found with several foreign currencies in his possession.

The recovered currencies included 3,000 Saudi Riyals, 40,000 Turkish Lira, 199.75 Kuwaiti Dinar, 20,700 Philippine Peso, 80 Australian Dollars, 310 Chinese Renminbi, 4,000 Algerian Dinar, 40 Hong Kong Dollars, 26,000 Hungarian Forint, and 1,000 Sudanese Dinar.

The probe also led to the arrest of Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria, who was alleged to have supplied the gold bars to Nasidi. During interrogation, he reportedly admitted involvement in multiple shipments.

“While being interviewed, Dan Zaria revealed to the Commission that he had smuggled an estimated 40.2 kilograms of gold from June 1 to June 11, 2026 using the same modus operandi,” the statement said.

All three suspects are currently in EFCC custody.

The Commission said they will be charged to court upon completion of ongoing investigations.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, has arrested 73 suspects and recovered various illicit drugs during coordinated raids on notorious drug dens across Kano State.

The operation, carried out on June 10 under the ongoing “Operation Sharar Mafaka”, targeted the Filin Mahaha drug den, the Sani Abacha Youth Centre and locations in the Sheka area, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics Sadiq Muhammad Maigatari.

The agency said the intelligence-led operation employed a “dislodge and occupy” strategy, whereby officers move into identified drug hotspots, arrest suspects, recover illicit substances and maintain a sustained presence to prevent criminals from returning to the locations.

Items recovered during the raid included cannabis sativa, diazepam, pregabalin, Exol-5, a substance locally known as “suck and die”, as well as other materials associated with the distribution and consumption of illicit drugs.

The command described the exercise as part of its sustained campaign to identify, dismantle and permanently disrupt notorious drug dens across the state.

Commander of the NDLEA Kano Strategic Command, CN D.Y. Lawal, said the agency would continue to intensify operations until drug traffickers and users no longer have safe havens.

The NDLEA also appealed to residents to support its anti-drug campaign by providing timely and credible intelligence that could aid future enforcement operations.

Five terrorists put on trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Department of the State Service, DSS, have been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment each for their complicity in attacks in Niger and Kwara states.

They include Niger Republic nationals and their three Nigerian counterparts, who are based in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The convicted terrorists are Yusuf Mohammed (Aka Bature), Goni Ibrahim Bindi (Aka Goni Mutuwa), Sani Tukur (Aka Danladi), Mubarak Ibrahim and Musa Alhaji Adamu (Aka Gado Banufe).

Justice Binta Nyako ordered their imprisonment on Thursday when they were arraigned on four-count terrorism charge, to which they pleaded guilty to.

In count one and two, which bordered on conspiracy and rendering services to Boko Haram members in Borgu LGA of Niger State, the hudge slammed 25 years each on them.

In count three, in which they pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of firearms, Justice Nyako sentenced them to seven years each.

Similarly, in count four where they admitted concealing information on the activities of the Boko Haram members in a forest in Borgu LGA of Niger State, the convicts bagged 25 years imprisonment each.

Aside their imprisonment, Justice Nyako ordered that the Golf car they used to convey 15 AK-103 rifles from Niger Republic to Nigeria be forfeited to the Federal Government along with the firearms.

The charges against them bordered on rendering assistance to a terrorist by agreeing to convey rifles, being found with arms and ammunition while concealed, illegal possession and dealing with firearms and concealment.

Following their admission of guit, the prosecution counsel prayed that the defendants be convicted as charged and also sought the court’s permission to tender from the bar the forwarding letter which contained the investigation report as well as the statements of the defendants.

The defence counsel had no objection to the application.  

The exhibits were subsequently admitted against them and marked as A, 1-5.

Also, 15 units of AK-103 rifles complete with its magazines and 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were tendered  with no objection from the defence counsel.

They were admitted and marked as B, 1-14 and the ammunition marked as C series.

The court thereafter sentenced the five convicts, with Justice Nyako ordering that they should serve their jail term in a place designated by the Minister of Interior.

The charge against the convicts read:

COUNT 1

That you, Yusuf Muhammad (a.k.a. Bature), adult, male, thirty-three (33) years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA, Niger State, Goni Ibrahim Bindi (a.k.a. Goni Mutua), adult, male, twenty-three (23) years old of Awadiri, Diffa region, Republic of Niger, Sani Tukur (a.k.a. Danladi), adult, male, twenty five 25) years old of Sansani Displaced Persons Camp, Diffa region, Republic of Niger, Mubarak Ibrahim, adult, male twenty eight (28) years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA of Niger State, and Musa Alhaji Adamu (a.k.a Gado Banufe) between 237 and 24″ April, 2026 did commit an offence, to wit: jointly conspired to render assistance to a terrorist by agreeing and intentionally playing various roles towards conveying fifteen (15) AK 103 rifles as well as about one thousand, four hundred and thirty-four (1,434) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition from Diffa region, Republic of Niger to one Malam Ahmad, a member of the Boko Haram terrorist group based in Borgu LGA of Niger State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

COUNT 2

That you, Yusuf Muhammad (a.k.a. Bature), adult, male, thirty-three (33) years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA, Niger State, Goni Ibrahim Bindi (a.k.a. Goni Mutua), adult, male, twenty-three (23) years old of Awadiri, Diffa region, Republic of Niger, Sani Tukur (a.k.a. Danladi), adult, male, twenty five 25) years old of Sansani Displaced Persons Camp, Diffa region, Republic of Niger, Mubarak Ibrahim, adult, male twenty eight (28) years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA of Niger State, and Musa Alhaji Adamu (a.k.a Gado Banufe) between 237 ne 24 Arrl 8 se won on eff ae) oe weer ndered Support for commission of act of terrorism to a terrorist by agreeing and conveying fifteen (15) AK 103 rifles as weil as about one thousand, four hundred and thirty-four (1,434) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition from Diffa region, Republic of Niger on behalf of one Malam Ahmad, a member of the Boko Haram terrorist group based in Borgu LGA of Niger State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 13(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

COUNT 3

That you, Goni Ibrahim Bindi (a.k.a. Goni Mutuwa), adult, male, twentythree (23) years old of Awadiri, Diffa region, Republic of Niger,Sani Tukur (a.k.a. Danladi), adult, male, twenty five (25 years old of Sansani Displaced Persons Camp, Diffa region, Republic of Niger and Musa Alhaji Adamu (a.k.a Gado Banufe), sometime between 23″ and 24″ April, 2026 at Kwangila area, along Kano-Kaduna express, Zaria; within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an offence, to wit: you had in your possession fifteen (15) AK 103 rifles and about one thousand, four hundred and thirty-four (1,434) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition carefully concealed in sacks containing dried fish loaded in a blue Volkswagen (golf 3) car with Republic of Niger registered plate number BT 9990 DA. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (a) (i), and (b) (ii) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28 LFN,  2004.

COUNT 4

That you, Yusuf Muhammad (a.K.a, Bature), adult, male, thirty-three (33) years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA, Niger State, sometimes between February 2025 and April, 2026 did commit an offence, to wit: you had information which you know or believed to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of Malam Ahmad, a known terrorist hibernating in Gandu forest, Borgu LGA of Niger State, and you failed to disclose such information to law enforcement or security officers. You thereby committed an offence in contravention of Section 16 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.