The Nigeria Police Force has intercepted a notorious arms supply syndicate responsible for arming bandits in Benue and other North-Central states, recovering a cache of weapons including a rocket launcher, multiple AK-47 rifles, and thousands of rounds of live ammunition.
This breakthrough, which followed a series of coordinated intelligence-led operations by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team, comes as part of ongoing investigations into recent deadly attacks on communities in Benue State.
According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Wednesday, police operatives stormed a forest hideout on June 21, 2025, at the boundary between Kardako in Nasarawa State and Yelwata in Benue State, believed to be occupied by bandits involved in the Yelwata killings.
He said a fierce gun duel ensued, forcing the criminals to flee with gunshot injuries, adding that two General Purpose Machine Guns were recovered at the scene.
Further success was recorded on July 8, 2025, when operatives along the Lafia–Makurdi expressway arrested a 25-year-old suspect, Abubakar Isah, who was caught in possession of three AK-47 rifles and 1,002 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
Adejobi said, “In furtherance of Police investigation on the deadly attacks by bandits on communities in Benue State, police operatives have again successfully intercepted and dismantled a notorious arms supply syndicate responsible for arming bandits in Benue State and other North-Central States.
“On the 21st of June, 2025, operatives of the FID-IRT acting on credible intelligence on the activities of some bandits who participated in the Yelwata killings, stormed the hideout of the bandits in a forest at the boundary of Kardako, Nassarawa State, and Yelwata in Benue State, a fierce gun duel ensued, causing the bandits to flee with various degrees of gunshot injuries.
Two GPMGs were recovered from their hideout in the process.”
Similarly, on July 8, 2025, he said operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), in a tactical operation, along the Lafia–Makurdi expressway in Makurdi, Benue State, arrested one Abubakar Isah, aged 25, found in possession of 3 AK47 rifles and 1002 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
“The arrest followed actionable intelligence indicating an impending arms movement intended for distribution to bandits groups known to be terrorising various communities in Benue State.
“Further investigations revealed that the arms and ammunition were supplied by a notorious arms dealer, Jacob Adikwu, operating from Abinsi, Guma Local Government area of Benue State, and was to be delivered to one Dan Hassan, a bandit kingpin known for orchestrating deadly attacks against communities across Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, and Kwara States,” he added.
In a related operation on July 12, he said police arrested a suspect identified as Ibrahim, also known as “Chelsea,” who confessed to sending ₦6.5 million to Adikwu for the procurement and concealment of weapons, including two AK-47 rifles and 2,000 rounds of ammunition.
He added that the funds also covered the construction of a hidden compartment in a Volkswagen vehicle to transport the arms to Kwara State.
“In a swift follow-up clearance operation, the operatives stormed Abinsi town and successfully apprehended Jacob Adikwu on 16th July 2025 and recovered three AK-47 rifles, 220 rounds of live ammunition and a Volkswagen car from his hideout. Further investigation carried out by the operatives on July 17, 2025, led to the recovery of an additional five AK-47 rifles, one rocket launcher, and 1000 rounds of live ammunition from the same arms dealer.
“Efforts are being intensified to ensure Dan Hassan and other criminal elements responsible for terrorising Benue State and other parts of the country are brought to book, while others in custody will have their day in court upon conclusion of investigation,” the statement added.
He said the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, praised the operatives for their “doggedness” and vowed that there would be no hiding place for criminals profiting from violence.
He reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to restoring peace and stability in Benue and other affected states, in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
