The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled a major arms trafficking network accused of supplying weapons to bandits terrorizing communities across Benue and other North-Central states.
The breakthrough was confirmed in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who revealed that the arrest followed ongoing investigations into the June 21, 2025 Yelwata massacre in Benue State.
According to Adejobi, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), acting on credible intelligence, stormed a forest hideout at the Kardako–Nasarawa–Yelwata boundary, leading to a fierce gun battle. Though the bandits managed to flee with gunshot wounds, two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) were recovered from the scene.
Further operations yielded major breakthroughs:
July 8, 2025:
FID-IRT operatives arrested 25-year-old Abubakar Isah along the Lafia–Makurdi expressway. He was found in possession of three AK-47 rifles and 1,002 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition. Intelligence revealed the arms were meant for distribution to terror groups in Benue.
Investigations traced the arms to Jacob Adikwu, a notorious arms dealer operating from Abinsi in Guma LGA, Benue State. He was supplying the weapons to Dan Hassan, a bandit kingpin linked to deadly attacks across Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, and Kwara States.
July 12, 2025:
Another suspect, Ibrahim a.k.a. Chelsea, was arrested. He confessed to sending ₦6.5 million to Adikwu—₦6 million for two AK-47 rifles and 2,000 rounds of ammunition, and ₦500,000 for the modification of a Volkswagen vehicle to smuggle the weapons into Kwara State.
July 16, 2025:
A police team stormed Abinsi town and arrested Jacob Adikwu, recovering three AK-47 rifles, 220 rounds of live ammunition, and the modified Volkswagen vehicle.
July 17, 2025:
A follow-up search led to the recovery of five more AK-47 rifles, one rocket launcher, and 1,000 rounds of live ammunition from Adikwu’s cache.
Adejobi stated that efforts are ongoing to apprehend Dan Hassan and dismantle the remaining networks fueling insecurity in the region.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to rooting out all criminal elements responsible for terrorising Benue and other parts of the country. Those in custody will be prosecuted upon conclusion of investigations,” Adejobi affirmed.
This significant crackdown is expected to bolster security efforts across the North-Central zone, especially in vulnerable communities repeatedly targeted by armed groups.