The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested five suspects believed to be arms couriers for the gunmen who attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, on November 21, 2025. Two of the suspects are from the Niger Republic.

Security operatives recovered a large cache of weapons from the suspects, including 15 AK-103 rifles, 15 magazines, and 1,434 rounds of live ammunition.

According to security sources, Yusuf Mohammed, also known as Bature—a wanted member of Boko Haram—was arrested along with his accomplice, Mubarak Ibrahim, on the Zaria-Kaduna highway while on their way to pick up arms for their commanders.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Goni Ibrahim, an international arms courier from the Diffa Region in the Republic, alongside his accomplice, Tukur Sani. The weapons were reportedly concealed in a blue car that the suspects were travelling in.

Days later, another suspect, Alhaji Adamu, also known as Gado Banufe, was arrested in Yauri, Kebbi State. He is known for supplying arms in the Kebbi area.

Preliminary investigations have linked all five suspects to the November 21 attack on the Catholic boarding school in Papiri. Dozens of gunmen on motorcycles stormed the school in the early hours, rounding up students and teachers. While about 50 children escaped during the attack, over 250 were marched into the Kainji Lake Reserve forest.

On December 21, 2025, the federal government and Niger State officials confirmed the rescue and safe return of the remaining 130 captives, stating that no pupil remained in captivity.