The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned a 67-year-old Plateau farmer, Danjuma Antu, before a Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged unlawful possession of firearms and material support for terrorism .
Antu was brought before Justice Ekerete Udofot Akpan on charges stemming from an incident on June 27, 2025, along Kabong Primary School in Jos North LGA, Plateau State . The DSS alleges the elderly farmer was found in possession of two locally fabricated pistols capable of discharging 9mm ammunition calibre .
The Charges
The prosecution, led by the DSS, charged Antu with unlawful possession of firearms without a licence, an offence contrary to Section 3 of the Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27(1) of the same Act .
In a more serious allegation, the DSS further accused the aged farmer of knowingly rendering material support for acts of terrorism by transporting the two locally fabricated pistols to Plateau State .
The case reflects ongoing efforts by the DSS to secure convictions through judicial processes, which analysts have described as an evolution in Nigeria's counterterrorism architecture—moving from apprehension to ensuring accountability through due process . Recent DSS prosecutions have yielded significant convictions, including terrorism-related cases .
Trial Date Fixed
Justice Akpan has scheduled the commencement of a full-scale trial for June 25, 2026 . The court is expected to hear evidence from both the prosecution and the defence as the trial gets underway.
The farmer's arraignment is the latest in a series of DSS prosecutions involving unlawful firearms possession and terrorism-related charges. The service has recently pursued high-profile cases, including the prosecution of a former Attorney General of the Federation and his son over similar allegations .
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