The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the arrest of a notorious arms supply syndicate responsible for arming bandits in Benue State and other North-Central States.
The arrested gunrunners include Abubakar Isah, Jacob Adikwu, and Dan Hassan.
The NPF disclosed that operatives of the FID-IRT, on June 21, 2025, acting on credible intelligence regarding the activities of some bandits involved in the Yelwata killings, stormed the bandits’ hideout in a forest at the boundary between Kardako, Nassarawa State, and Yelwata in Benue State.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement on Wednesday, revealing that a fierce gun duel ensued, causing the bandits to flee with varying degrees of gunshot injuries and the recovery of 2 General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) from their hideout.
“Similarly, On 8th July 2025, 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 terrorizing 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,” the statement reads in part.
In a a related development, FID-IRT operatives, on July 12, 2025, acting on credible intelligence, arrested Ibrahim (aka Chelsea), who confessed to having sent the sum of ₦6.5 million to Adikwu.
ACP Adejobi noted that ₦6 million was payment for the delivery of two AK-47 rifles and 2,000 rounds of live ammunition, while ₦500,000 was meant for constructing a compartment in a Volkswagen vehicle to conceal the arms for transportation 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 (3) AK-47 rifles, 220 rounds of live ammunition and a volkswagen car from his hideout.
“Further investigation carried out by the operatives on the 17th July 2025, led to the recovery of additional five (5) AK-47 rifles, one rocket launcher, and 1000 rounds of live ammunition from the same arms dealer,” he said.
The spokesperson mentioned that efforts are being intensified to ensure that Hassan and other criminal elements responsible for terrorising Benue State and other parts of the country are brought to book.
He added that the suspects will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.
Reacting to the successful operations, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commended the operatives for their doggedness, reiterating that there will be no hiding place for those who profit from the bloodshed of innocent Nigerians.
IGP Egbetokun urged the operatives to sustain their efforts in maintaining peace in the affected areas, as directed by the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to ensuring peace and stability across the country.
